Football Roundup: Hilmar, Gustine Chowchilla open section playoffs with victories

Caden Bailey scored two touchdowns and Cohen Felber made two interceptions to help lead the Hilmar High football team to a 14-7 victory over Livingston in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs on Friday night at McSweeney Field.

Bailey returned to the field for the first time since injuring his ankle against Summerville on Oct. 18, and Felber was called up from the junior-varsity team this week for the playoffs.

Felber’s second interception came in the end zone in the final minute to preserve the victory for the No. 6 seed Yellowjackets (5-6).

Livingston’s lone score came on an 11-yard touchdown run by Jose Lozada that gave the No. 11 seeded Wolves (5-6) a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Bailey answered with a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 23-yard run in the third quarter.

Hilmar advances to face No. 3 Lathrop next week.

Vacaville 35, Atwater 21 — Tanner Boyd scored three touchdown as the No. 7 seeded Bulldogs (8-3) defeated the No. 10 Falcons in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs.

Jeremiah De La Rosa scored two rushing touchdowns for Atwater (8-3), which qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Gustine 21, Golden Sierra 18 — Alex Quezada’s 1-yard TD run with 10 seconds left in the game capped a game-winning 90-yard drive for the Reds in the first round of the Division VII playoffs.

Gustine’s final drive chewed up 10 minutes and 23 seconds off the clock.

Gustine’s two first-half touchdowns were produced with a Danny Navarro scoring strike to Osiel Torres and a 5-yard TD run by Mike Saaranzin.

The No. 8 Reds will travel to No. 1 Summerville next week.

Chowchilla 49, Cabrillo 23 — Tribe quarterback Davian Stephenson accounted for four touchdowns with two passes and two scores on the ground.

Stephenson scored on runs of 12 and 10 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns to Tristan Beardsley for 49 and 13 yards.

Dwayne Hemphill, Travis Selby and Dellvonta Vaughn all added rushing touchdowns for Chowchilla (10-1).

The No. 6 seeded Tribe will travel to No. 3 Coalinga (11-0) for a quarterfinal game next week.

Other Merced County scores:

Orestimba 33, Delhi 0

South 14, Dos Palos 7