Recap
Fillmore clinches share of Citrus Coast League football title with win over Hueneme π
Fillmore 31, Hueneme 19
Oxnard, CA — The closing two weeks should leave long lasting memories for the Fillmore High football program.
Charlie Weis stressed one moment in a postgame huddle.
Look at the scoreboard, the Fillmore coach implored his players. Never forget what you just accomplished.
With the defense weathering a Hueneme program record-setting passing onslaught, Fillmore clinched at least a share of the Citrus Coast League football title Friday night with a 31-19 road win.
Hours before Fillmore (7-3, 3-0) took the field in pursuit of the program's 14th league title, there was a long line that snaked outside the front door seeking to purchase tickets for next week's rivalry game against Santa Paula.
"It's like having two playoff bowl games back to back," said Weis.
David Jimenez scored twice, Nathan Torres rushed for 113 yards and Diego Amezcua returned the second-half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown as Fillmore won its sixth consecutive game.
Hueneme quarterback Josiah Sanchez threw a program-record 51 passes, completing 30 for 401 yards. Robert Barrera had 17 receptions for 214 yards. The two-time defending Citrus Coast League champions saw their nine-game league winning streak come to a close.
"We've wanted to make lasting memories," said Weis. "This game will be one they will never forget. The Santa Paula games are always incredibly memorable."
A win over Santa Paula earns Fillmore the outright title and an assured playoff position. A Fillmore loss coupled with a Hueneme (3-6, 2-1) win over Carpinteria on Friday would create a three-way tie for first place.
"We control our destiny," Weiss said.
Fillmore needed only a few minutes to wrest control of a close game in the first half.
Torres' 45-yard run to the Hueneme 1-yard line set the stage for the first of Jimenez's two TDs to give Fillmore a 10-7 lead with 3:46 left in the half.
Two plays later, Fillmore's Nathan Delgadillo recovered a fumble on the Hueneme 39. Two plays later, Jimenez's 2-yard TD run upped Fillmore's margin to 17-7.
"Once they gave me the call to run," said Jimenez, "I was all in. It was tiring. Nonstop."
Hueneme stormed back with a 70-yard drive to inside the Fillmore 5-yard line as Sanchez completed six consecutive passes. His fourth-down pass into the end zone sailed over the head of the Vikings receiver with 29.9 seconds remaining.
Amezcua's kickoff return to start the third quarter made it 24-7 for Fillmore.
Aiden Avitia kept Hueneme's hopes alive with an 8-yard TD run with 6:18 left in the third quarter to close the deficit to 24-13.
Fillmore had an answer with Torres, who had four carries for 49 yards, including an 18-yard TD, on the Flashes' next possession for a 31-13 lead.
"Torres weighs 150 pounds on a good day soaking wet," said Weiss. "And yet, he was making plays all over the field against a program that has three times as many students as we have. He is the perfect embodiment of what Fillmore football is all about. We don't care how big you are or where you've been or what pedigree. We just want you to give us everything that you've got."
Hueneme closed out the scoring with a 51-yard TD pass from Sanchez to Oswaldo Collazo with 9:19 left in the game.
"Hueneme is tough, physical and well coached," said Weiss. "They established a standard that we wanted to reach. Tonight we finally lived up to that standard."