Prep Football: Josh Sousa leads Central Valley Christian to state championship with 3 TDs

Todd Hadler
·4 min read
Serrano’s Ethan Pippen kneels as the Central Valley Christian football team celebrates after pulling off a 21-9 victory in the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.
Serrano’s Ethan Pippen kneels as the Central Valley Christian football team celebrates after pulling off a 21-9 victory in the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.

PHELAN — A strong performance by Central Valley Christian High School running back Josh Sousa and stout defense led to 21-9 victory on Friday in the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final over Serrano High School.

Central Valley Christian now faces Marin Catholic in the CIF State Finals on Dec. 11.

Coming off of their last-minute victory against Buena High Schol to win, Serrano came into Friday's game as the 21-17 favorite, according to CalPreps.

Central Valley Christian wasted no time in trying to prove CalPreps wrong. Running back Josh Sousa ran for 70 yards on two plays on the game's opening drive to give the Cavaliers a touchdown one minute and one second into the game.

“Our line has improved all year. I think they’ve figured out how to do what we’re asking of them,” Central Valley Christian head coach Mason Hughes said. “Josh is really good. He’s fast, he’s strong, so you combine that together, and it makes for a good running game.”

Throughout the night, Serrano’s defense was able to slow down the Cavaliers' passing game, giving up big passes now and again. The Cavaliers’ running game, led by Sousa, was tough to stop early, though. Sousa broke multiple tackles in his two big runs on the opening drive, and the rest of the team was making it difficult to be tackled as well.

Central Valley Christian's Brandt Munger intercepts a Serrano pass during the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.
Central Valley Christian's Brandt Munger intercepts a Serrano pass during the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.

Meanwhile, on Serrano’s side of the ball, a change at quarterback was made on the team’s second drive of the game.

Payton Cornell, who had been the team’s starting quarterback most of the season and threw the game-winning touchdown last week, replaced Tanner Chaffee. Chaffee went back to his usual position of wide receiver.

The Diamondbacks were having trouble running the ball their opening drive, so Maholchic switched to Cornell to have a quarterback that has more experience throwing the ball.

However, Serrano could not get their offense going until late in the third quarter. The run game was not moving the chains enough, and Cornell threw the ball four times in the first half, only one of them being caught.

“In a game like this against a talented team like that, you kind of have to play the perfect game, and we just didn’t do that,” Serrano head coach Casey Maholchic said. “We made too many mistakes.”

Serrano’s Division 8 title win was the school’s first since 2004 and is their only two CIF-SS championship victories in school history.

Serrano's Rigo Cabral breaks free for a touchdown against Central Valley Christian during the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021. Serrano lost the game 21-9.
Serrano's Rigo Cabral breaks free for a touchdown against Central Valley Christian during the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021. Serrano lost the game 21-9.

Central Valley Christian scored their second touchdown in the second quarter after a 3-yard run from Sousa.

The Cavaliers threatened to score again right before the half, but Kalombay Badibunga ended that threat with the interception near the endzone.

Even with starting the ball at halftime, Serrano continued to make crucial mistakes.

Cornell threw an interception to Brandt Munger that was brought back to the 2-yard line.

Serrano stopped them from scoring on that drive, but Central Valley Christian scored another touchdown on their ensuing possession with a 39-yard pass from Max Bakker to Sousa.

Sousa finished the game with 123 yards on eight carries, one catch for 39 yards, and three touchdowns.

Things were finally starting to look Serrano’s way at the end of the third quarter. The Diamondbacks capped a long drive with a 7-yard touchdown by Rigo Cabral, and the team got the ball back immediately after with an onside kick.

“I really felt like we were tired. We were wearing out, and they weren’t,” Hughes said. “It didn’t look like we could stop them consistently.”

Serrano's Trevor Sturdevant walks off the field as Central Valley Christian celebrates a 21-9 victory in the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.
Serrano's Trevor Sturdevant walks off the field as Central Valley Christian celebrates a 21-9 victory in the CIF State Division 4-AA South Regional Final on Dec. 3, 2021.

Another costly mistake halted Serrano's momentum. A fumbled snap just two plays after the Cavaliers recovered the onside kick.

Serrano was given the ball back midway through the fourth quarter and got the ball down to the 7-yard line.

Central Valley Christian stopped them four downs in a row, and Serrano turned the ball over without scoring with three minutes left in the game.

The Diamondbacks got a safety on the ensuing drive, but it was too little too late. Cornell was intercepted again by Munger, and Serrano’s season came to a close.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Central Valley Christian headed to state championship after 21-9 win