Hughson holds off late Pitman comeback to win hard-fought nonleague game
The big question for the Hughson High football team heading into the 2025 season was this: How would the Huskies fare without star quarterback Robert McDaniel?
The answer so far? Not bad at all.
The Huskies are 3-0 after defeating Pitman 24-21 in a hard-fought nonleague game at Joe Debely Stadium in Turlock on Friday night.
“We’ve got some great quarterbacks still here,” Hughson coach Shaun King said. “We’re going to keep this train on the railroad tracks. I’m very pleased.”
McDaniel, now a freshman at San Jose State, led Hughson to three consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section championships and was The Bee’s Football Player of the Year last season.
But the Huskies still have senior running back Eli Wilbanks, a solid offensive line and a sturdy defense. And all three played key roles in the win over Pitman.
Wilbanks rushed for 212 yards and a touchdown to power the Huskies’ run game. And he seemed to get better as the game went on.
“I’m here to do my job, you know, and give my team the yards that we need,” Wilbanks said. “Whether that’s a 50-yard touchdown or a 5-yard first down, I’m here for the team.”
Hughson builds a 17-point lead
Pitman’s offense struggled early but the Pride’s defense kept the game close. In the second half, though, Wilbanks and the offensive line seemed to wear down the Pitman defense.
“They were amazing, as always,” Wilbanks said of his offensive linemen. “Never giving up, driving until the whistle blows. You can’t really ask for more than that.”
To replace McDaniel, the Huskies have turned over the keys to senior Russell Spaulding, who was efficient in running the offense.
Spaulding’s 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bryce McDaniel, Robert’s brother, gave Hughson a 17-7 lead.
After running back Lawson Aviles gave Hughson a 24-7 lead on a seven-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, it looked as if the Huskies were on the verge of a blowout.
But Pitman had other ideas.
The Pride (2-1) scored on Mason Helwick’s one-yard touchdown run and RJ Wilharm hit Caleb Grossman on a 19-yard touchdown pass to pull Pitman within three points with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left.
But on a key third down with Pitman looking to get the ball back, Wilbanks rumbled for the first down and the Huskies were able to run out the clock.
Encouraging effort from Pitman
First-year head coach Braden Plaa said he was proud of the way his team kept battling back against a powerhouse like Hughson.
“We were right there with one of the best teams in the area,” said Plaa, the son of Downey High coach Jeremy Plaa. “Hughson’s up there with Turlock and Downey, and we know coming into (league) that’s where we’re going to have to be at, is those two teams.”
Helwick, a senior running back, rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns against the gang-tackling Hughson defense.
Wilharm, Pitman’s senior quarterback, made some big plays for the Pride, running for 54 yards to set up their first score, then darting for 76 yards to set up his team’s final touchdown.
Pitman, which went into the game on the bubble of The Bee’s top 10 rankings, should remain on the bubble.
The Pride appear to be relevant again after several years of being a pushover.
“Our three words are ‘smart, dependable, tough,’“ Plaa said. “Those are the pillars we’re looking to build. And I think we really showed our toughness tonight. And I think that’s something we’re going to build on.”
Up next for Hughson, Pitman
Pitman will look to get back on a winning track next Friday when it plays Golden Valley (0-3) in Merced. Pitman opens Central California Athletic League play Oct. 3 against Modesto.
Hughson will look to stay unbeaten in a home game against Linden (1-1) next Friday.
The Huskies open Trans-Valley League play against Ripon on Sept. 19.
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM.
