Hilmar dominates Rio Linda, reaches section D-V semifinals
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- Hilmar advanced to Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinals after 41-13 win.
- Adam Branco rushed for 91 yards and three first-half touchdowns to spark rally.
- Coach Frank Marques seeks one win for career 200th and a section title in 2025.
Hilmar High football coach Frank Marques is one win from career victory No. 200.
And the Yellowjackets are one win from playing for a Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship.
Marques, who announced earlier in the season this would be his final year as coach of the Yellowjackets, watched with pride as Hilmar cruised to a dominating 41-13 win over Rio Linda on Friday night at McSweeney Field.
It was career win No. 199 for Hilmar’s legendary coach.
The second-seeded Yellowjackets will face third-seeded Sutter in next Friday’s semifinals.
Asked what it would mean to play for a section title in his final season, Marques looked to his players, who were kneeling for a post-game talk.
“Personally, it’s for these kids,” Marques said. “I’ve been there, I’ve done that ... these are the guys that I want to experience that. ... I want it for them.”
Hilmar overcomes sluggish start
Second-seeded Hilmar (6-4) started off slow against seventh-seeded Rio Linda (5-6).
The Knights scored the game’s first touchdown on their first play from scrimmage, an 87-yard touchdown run by Joseph Corey (20 carries, 196 yards).
But it was all Hilmar after that.
Sophomore running back Adam Branco rushed for 91 yards and three touchdowns, and junior Lucas Belo scored two touchdowns — one on a 77-yard catch and run that put Hilmar up 34-7 at halftime.
The Yellowjackets scored 41 unanswered points and were able to rest their starters in the fourth quarter.
Rio Linda scored its second touchdown on a 29-yard pass with 35 seconds left in the game.
Junior defensive back Nathan Ayala was Hilmar’s star on defense, grabbing two of the Yellowjackets’ three interceptions.
Ayala said the defense wasn’t too concerned after giving up the big touchdown early in the game. “We just let it go,” Ayala said. “We weren’t worried about it that much.”
Hilmar’s running game in high gear
After going three-and-out on their first possession, the Yellowjackets moved the ball pretty much at will the rest of the way.
Branco scored touchdowns on three straight possessions, from 4, 3 and 2 yards out.
Mattheu Brum’s seven-yard touchdown run gave Hilmar a 27-7 lead late in the first half.
After forcing a Rio Linda punt, Hilmar got the ball back at its own 23. Jorden Jacobo, one of two junior quarterbacks who play for Hilmar, hit Belo on a swing pass and the junior took it down the left sideline for the score.
Belo’s two-yard touchdown in the third quarter put Hilmar up 41-7.
Sutter will be a big test
The Yellowjackets’ easy victory sets up a showdown of two of Northern California’s most successful small-school programs.
Marques expects a big challenge against Sutter, a former Northern Section powerhouse now playing in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
Third-seeded Sutter (10-1) crushed sixth-seeded Rosemont 65-14 in its playoff opener.
“We’ve got to take care of Sutter, and they’re a really good football team with a great tradition,” Marques said.
Marques feels like his junior-laded team is rounding into form at the right time.
“I think our running game has been good all season, it’s just getting better and better,” Marques said. “I think it’s just one of those things that we’re jelling together at the right time.”
Hilmar’s players have extra motivation to beat Sutter and reach the section title game. They know it will be Marques’ last opportunity.
“That’s our goal right now,” Branco said. “Everybody on our team, that’s our goal. To get him one last blue banner ... That’s everything right now”
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 11:20 PM.
