Delhi nips Riverbank for 2nd win

RIVERBANK — Antonio Cervantes, 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, was bathed in sweat, a downhill-running warrior who maxed out Friday night.

He has suffered along with his 15 senior teammates since they enrolled at Delhi High. Only now are they reaping rewards.

Cervantes and his mates (2-0) took another step forward when he rushed for two second-half touchdowns en route to the Hawks' 14-13 victory over Riverbank, another win-starved program.

"It's been four years of work. The seniors have been on the varsity since we were sophomores," Cervantes said. "This team grew up."

Delhi beat Riverbank last year, but that was one of only two wins for the Hawks in their previous three seasons. Last week, the Hawks (enrollment 708) shocked McLane of Fresno (enrollment 2,300) for their first thunderbolt.

Cervantes' power personifies the Hawks, who align in a double-wing mass of humanity and dare the defense to stand in their way. Delhi's hammer found its mark with two punishing drives to start the second half, both finished off by Cervantes (13 carries, 78 yards) on blasts of 3 and 4 yards.

"Our intent is to be physical," said Rod McCombs, Delhi's third-year coach. "If the other team has defenders who go both ways, our offense is designed to wear them down."

The game featured two have-nots working hard to become haves. Riverbank (2-1), which has not won three games in a single season since 2004, nearly got there.

The Bruins, supported by a crowd of about 1,500, led 7-0 at halftime behind its gutsy 5-7 150-pound quarterback Alex Reynaga.

Each team completed exactly one pass and tried only a combined six. Delhi changed the game with its crunching power, however, and outgained the Bruins 173-59 in the second half. But Riverbank wasn't finished.

Reynaga (18 carries, 65 yards, TD), slowing rising to his feet all night after absorbing major blows from the Delhi defense, launched a perfect 40-yard pass to Dalton Woitysiak, who carried in a defender from inside the 5 to pull the Bruins to 14-13.

With 5:15 left, Riverbank first-year coach Jim Oliver faced a classic decision — -kick for the tie or try for the go-ahead deuce. In the stands sat about a dozen of his old teammates, Riverbank's 1978 football team, the Bruins' only Trans Valley League champions, who were honored before the game.

Oliver opted for the conversion kick, but a one-hop snap forced a low kick from Jose Vigil that wobbled short of the crossbar. Delhi ran out the clock.

"I got talked out of it," Oliver said. "We have to learn to trust each other more. I'm in here for the long haul. I wouldn't be a head coach at any other school. A loss like this is part of the process."

As it also was on the other side of the field. Afterward, Delhi's fans serenaded their team with cheers outside the locker room. Winning is not taken for granted at places like Delhi or Riverbank.

Concluded Cervantes, "This year we're pounding back."

For photo galleries, video and more,go to modbee.com/prepfootball today and throughout the weekend.