DINUBA – The home field and a winless Selma High team provided welcome relief to the Dinuba High Emperors football team on Sept. 8.
Following three tough road games with a 1-2 record, the Emperors returned to DHS stadium and racked up six rushing touchdowns in a 49-7 dismantling of the Bears (0-4). Running back Diego Tuttle rushed for two scores as Dinuba shook off the effects of a 42-14 road loss at Kingsburg High a week earlier.
Both teams battled to a scoreless deadlock after one quarter, but Dinuba finally broke through when fullback Julian Ramirez capped off a drive with a 3-yard run five minutes before halftime. After a missed two-point try, the Emps doubled their lead when Tuttle scored from 5 yards out and DHS added a 2-point run with two minutes remaining.
DInuba turned the game into a rout with four touchdowns in the third quarter. Kristian Bobenrieth scored from a yard out, Tuttle added his second TD on a 2-yard run, quarterback Jayce Prendez threw a 45-yard scoring strike to Christian Lopez and Paul Huerta had a 10-yard TD run. In the final period, Dominique Nunez ran for a 16-yard score before Drew Cerda broke up the shutout with a 42-yard touchdown dash in the final six minutes.
The Emperors’ non-league schedule wraps up on the road with a Friday, Sept. 15 contest in Easton against Washington Union in a 7 p.m. kickoff. Dinuba then will have its bye week before opening West Yosemite League play on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. against Hanford High.
In other Week 3 games:
Coalinga 24, Reedley 0 – At Coalinga High, the host Horned Toads (3-0) defense limited the Pirates (0-3) to 125 total yards in the non-league contest. Coalinga managed to overcome 125 yards in penalties, and got two touchdown passes from Noah Tasi (20 of 26, 244 yards) to Dylan Teixeira (eight catches for 109 yards).
Running back Demetrius Vargas finished with 70 yards rushing in 20 carries to account for more than half of Reedley’s offense. The Pirates had just 20 yards passing and two turnovers (fumble and interception). Gustavo Alvarado had Coalinga’s other touchdown on a 1-yard run while the Horned Toads also added a field goal.
Reedley travels to Selma for a 7:30 p.m. non-league game Friday, Sept. 15 against the Bears. The Pirates’ then close out non-league action Friday, Sept. 22 at home against Mt. Whitney before opening Tri County Conference-Sequoia division play on Thursday, Sept. 28 by hosting fellow Reedley school Immanuel High.
McLane 49, Immanuel 13 – In Fresno on Sept. 7, the host Highlanders (2-1) returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns and rushed for three more scores to trounce the Eagles (1-2) at McLane Stadium. Junior Da’zir Newhouse ran for a pair of scores and added a 70-yard pick six. Demetrius SImon also returned an interception 100 yards for a score.
Immanuel’s touchdowns came on short runs from Balton King and Tyler Romo, and sophomore Jackson Leibee rushed for 62 yards. Senior quarterback Jake Horn was limited to 89 yards passing on 8 of 18 with Trey Romo collecting 38 receiving yards.
The Eagles return home to play Firebaugh (2-2) on Friday, Sept. 15 in a 7 p.m. varsity start.
Chowchilla 60, Parlier 0 – At Chowchilla, the Tribe (2-1) racked up 291 rushing yards, including 115 and three touchdowns, from senior Andre Pulliam to put away the visiting Panthers (1-3) in the Northwest Sequoia League opener for both teams. Junior Dwayne Hemphill added 100 yards and a touchdown for the hosts.
Parlier returns home to take on Fowler High at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. The Redcats (1-3) routed Minarets 59-20 for their first win.
Bye week teams return to action this week – Unbeaten Orosi, Orange Cove and Sanger West all return to action this week after having byes during Week 3. The Cardinals (3-0) begin East Sequoia League play on the road, traveling to Farmersville to play the 1-2 Aztecs in a 7:15 p.m. start. Farmersville (1-2) lost last week 34-14 to Avenal, which dropped a 28-13 decision at Orosi on Aug. 25.
Orange Cove (2-1, 1-0 ESL) has a chance to open up a lead in the ESL race when it plays at 1-2 Strathmore on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:15 p.m. The Spartans were blanked by Mendota on Sept. 8. Sanger West (1-2) is heading up to Fresno for its North Yosemite League opener at 7:15 p.m. on Sept. 15 against Hoover High (1-2), which won 44-21 at Hanford West on Sept. 8.
