Defending flag football champ Hughson wins 1-point thriller over Central Catholic
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hughson overcame major roster turnover and a season-ending injury to secure an 11-seed.
- Leah Hobby intercepted, led the final march and threw the 11-yard touchdown.
- Huskies advance to face No. 3 Colfax in a rematch of last season’s section title game.
Even before the Hughson High flag football team made the 2025 Division IV postseason, it went through adversity.
The Huskies (13-11) lost nearly all of their starters from last year’s section championship team. Then, less than five games into the season, likely TVL MVP candidate Presley Wells went down with a season-ending leg injury.
They combined just a handful of experienced players with a majority new roster and despite winning their first four games, they were 2-4 when Trans-Valley League play hit.
But never underestimate the hearts of champions.
The Huskies earned an 11 seed, meaning if they were going to make another deep postseason run, they would have to win on the road. That journey started Wednesday in Modesto at No. 6 Central Catholic (17-9).
Though the Raiders took a late lead, the Huskies never wavered, orchestrating a late-game drive to secure a 13-12 win and a spot in the quarterfinals for a second straight season.
“I told the girls before we came that when you go through the TVL and you play with Hilmar and Orestimba, you can play with anybody. And when you come on the road, you have to match the energy and intensity, and they did,” head coach Charly Garza said. “I told them if we play the right way, you have what it takes to go far. I don’t know if they believed that (before), but the looks on their faces with this win, I think they’ve got a couple more games to play.”
A first-half pick-six and one-point conversion gave Hughson a 7-0 lead going into the intermission, but the Huskies gave up a pair of passing touchdowns and fell behind 12-7 with seven minutes, 40 seconds left in the game.
The Huskies and Raiders traded stops, and with 4:15 left, quarterback/safety Leah Hobby came away with an interception, giving Hughson one final drive to win.
“I wasn’t nervous, I have full trust in my coach and my team,” said Hobby, the reigning TVL Most Outstanding Offensive Player with 2,427 passing yards this season. “I know when it counts, we come together … and we know how to work under pressure.”
Hobby led the Huskies down the field, picking up a first down inside the 20-yard line. With 1:48 left to play, she found the team’s second-leading receiver, Cienna Guillette, cutting across the field for an 11-yard touchdown. Central Catholic stopped the one-point conversion, but the 13-12 lead was all Hughson needed as the Husky defense forced a turnover on downs and kneeled out the clock.
“I saw (Guillette) go past her girl and I just knew if I throw it, one of my receivers would fight for it and that’s what she did. Then she went all the way,” Hobby said.
Hughson advances to the second round, where it travels to No. 3 Colfax in a rematch of last season’s section title game, which the Huskies won 26-13.
2025 Sac-Joaquin Section first-round scores
Division I
No. 9 Del Oro 7, No. 8 Pitman 0: The Pride fell in a one-score home thriller, leading to a first-round playoff elimination. Pitman finishes the season 14-5 overall and 12-3 in CCAL play.
No. 6 Pleasant Grove 20, No. 11 Gregori 12: The Jaguars’ season ends with an impressive 18-7 overall record after they could not overcome the six-seed Eagles on the road.
No. 7 Turlock 25, No. 10 Sheldon 6: The outright CCAL champion, Turlock picked up its 16th win this season and extended its win streak to seven games Wednesday. Turlock travels to No. 2 McClatchy next Monday for a quarterfinals matchup.
No. 2 McClatchy 47, No. 15 Central Valley 6: The Hawks allowed a season-high 47 points to the No. 2 team in Division I and the No. 12 team in the state Wednesday. Central Valley’s final overall record is 14-10.
Division III
No. 9 Ceres 31, No. 8 Vanden 13: The Bulldogs come home from a long trip to Fairfield with a win in their pocket after upsetting the No. 8 Vanden Vikings in the first round of the postseason. Ceres hits the road again Monday, taking over top-seed Christian Brothers.
No. 2 Lathrop 46, No. 15 Ripon 12: Ripon gave up 13 completions for 131 yards and three touchdowns to Lathrop quarterback Luz De Luna as the Indians fell in the first round of the D-III playoffs. Ripon went 11-14 overall in 2025.
Division IV
No. 1 Orestimba 35, No. 16 Gridley 6: The undefeated TVL champion, Orestimba won its 12th straight game Wednesday. The top seed in the division and a top-10 team in the section, Orestimba has homefield advantage through the semifinals. The Warriors host Destiny Christian Academy on Monday in the quarterfinals.
No. 5 Hilmar 37, No. 12 Sacramento Adventist 0: Hilmar scored over 35 for the seventh time this season in Wednesday’s first-round matchup against the Capitals. Hilmar travels to Liberty Ranch of Galt in a No. 5 at No. 4 matchup Monday.
No. 3 Colfax 20, No. 19 Escalon 0: After beating Riverbank 12-0 in a play-in game Monday, Escalon fell to the division’s third-ranked team in the postseason’s first round. Escalon finished 5-18 overall.
