Defense is key as Hughson stops Orestimba

NEWMAN -- David Lopez and Hughson High's defense had spent the week preparing for Steven Machado, who was California's No. 2 rusher through the first seven weeks of the season.

Of course, every opponent's been designing a defense with Machado in mind. He broke into the state list after just three games and has been tearing it up since.

"He's a great back, because if you give him a small hole, he'll take it to the house before you know he's gone," the Huskies' 6-foot-5, 255-pound tackle said. "We worked all week on wrapping, getting a lot of bodies to the ball and Machado."

The strategy paid off, as the Huskies limited Machado to minus-12 yards rushing on their way to a 25-6 Trans-Valley League win.

Hughson (4-3, 1-2 TVL) and Orestimba (5-3, 1-3) are both in contention for a playoff berth, but that's what not caught everyone's attention Friday night.

Machado, a scatback whose powerful legs never stopped churning despite the constant harassment by the Huskies, was averaging 233 yards a game and had scored 21 TDs.

He had helped Orestimba to five straight wins to open the season, but now the Warriors have lost three in a row. That losing streak coincides with the absence of receiver Ernie Esquivez — the big-play threat who has a hamstring injury.

That allowed Hughson to pull all 11 defenders close to the line on plays it felt Machado would run.

In the first half, Machado had runs of negative 3, 8 and 12 yards. He finished the half with 10 carries for minus 19 yards, and had 15 runs for the game. He had two catches for 14 yards.

"We saw on film that he was getting outside the ends, and once he's out there, you might not catch him," said Perez, whose unit intercepted three passes and didn't allow a score until the final minute. "When we clogged the hole, and he tried to cut back, we had our line there waiting for him."

Machado exploited cutback in recent weeks, running for more than 150 yards against Hilmar and then a career-high 330 yards vs. Escalon last week, as defenses overpursued him on the sweep. When he cut back on the Huskies, a big linemen or two were waiting for him.

While Machado was quiet, Hughson's Tanner Duron was explosive.

A junior, like Machado, Duron had a season-high 30 carries for 250 yards and three TDs. His 76-yard dash up the middle in the second quarter gave Hughson a 12-0 lead.

"My guard (Santos Sandoval) pulled and took the 'backer or a safety, then my fullback led me through the hole and into the open," said Duron, who topped 1,000 yards for the season in the first half. "Once I got out there, it was just running and not getting caught. I got caught earlier this year. I didn't want to get caught."

Machado rarely had that opportunity. He was usually dodging a defender just a step or two into the play. The Huskies — anchored by their line of Perez, Sandoval, Joel Openshaw and Jorge Barajas — were swarming into the backfield,

Bailey Carroll intercepted a second-quarter pass, moments before Duron's 76-yard TD run, while Justin Denio and Jorge Ayala picked off passes in the second half to stop Orestimba drives.

Hughson's Bailey Carroll hauls in a touchdown pass against Orestimba

Hughson High School's Tanner Duron scores another touchdown

Orestimba blocks a Hughson field goal attempt.

Orestimba quarterback Tanner Pruett gets off quick pass before he gets rocked.

Hughson's Tanner Duron scores touchdown

Hughson's Cory Dalton breaks up a long pass attempt by Orestimba