Hughson completes perfect preseason with impressive win over Pitman. TVL play is next
The Hughson High football team sure is off to a great start this season.
The Huskies went 3-0 during the preseason, outscored their opponents 122-14, and will get a bye week before facing Ripon in the Trans-Valley League opener on Sept. 20.
“All in all, I’m happy with the preseason,” Hughson coach Shaun King said. “We’re ready, we’re ready for league play. Now it gets fun.”
The Huskies had plenty of fun on homecoming night Friday, easily dismantling Pitman 45-7 at Husky Memorial Stadium in their final nonleague game of the 2024 season.
Future Arizona Wildcat Robert McDaniel, the Huskies’ senior quarterback and three-year starter, passed for five first-half touchdowns to light up Pitman. Three TDs went to his brother Bryce and two went to speedy senior Malakai Sumter.
It was the kind of performance that should strike fear in Hughson’s TVL rivals.
Could Hughson’s preseason have gone any better?
“No,” King said. “And, you know, we do need some rest. So we’re going to go light next week and start preparing for Ripon.”
Robert McDaniel impressive for Huskies
Hughson’s offense fired on all cylinders in the first half against Pitman.
McDaniel, the highly recruited quarterback who has committed to Arizona, was as impressive as ever. He was masterful at looking off defenders, working his way through his progressions and finding open receivers.
He connected with brother Bryce McDaniel on touchdown passes of 30, 7 and 52 yards.
The star quarterback also hit Sumter on two long touchdown plays — a 73-yard play that showed off Sumter’s impressive speed, and one that went 43 yards.
The Huskies also had two touchdowns called back by penalty, one a long punt return by Sumter.
Robert McDaniel finished with 297 yards and the five TDs on 12-of-17 passing.
“I feel great,” McDaniel said. “Some people could say our games weren’t as challenging, but every single game we have is a dogfight. I’m really confident in our offense.
“We’ve got bye week to focus on all the little mistakes and just get better every day.”
What made Hughson especially tough to stop was some balance on offense.
Huskies junior running back Eli Wilbanks showed strength and speed, bulldozing his way to 135 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He pancaked a defender on a 57-yard run in the first half.
“I think it’s going to be huge,” Wilbanks said of getting the running game going. “(Defenses) are not going to know what to expect. We can bomb it down the field a hundred yards or we can run it down the field a hundred yards. We can do it all.”
The Huskies’ defense stifled Pitman most of the night. The Pride punted six times, lost two fumbles, and rarely passed midfield.
Grant Day’s 2-yard touchdown during garbage time late in the game gave Pitman (0-3) its only points.
Trans-Valley League play will be tough
Now Hughson turns its attention to the always tough Trans-Valley League.
With the addition of Sonora, Orestimba and Ripon Christian, the battle for the TVL title is tougher than ever.
“It is, and I’m looking forward to it,” said King, whose team has won back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section titles. “I think it’s great, I think we’re all going to get better. And I think it’s all going to prepare us for the playoffs.”
Pitman will host Golden Valley next Friday. The Pride opens Central California Athletic League play on Oct. 10 against Downey.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 11:43 PM.
