WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – One of the younger squads in the Mid-Valley League last year with just three seniors on the roster, the Yellowjackets had little familiarity playing at the varsity level, a situation that was compounded by the fact that they also were hit hard by injuries.
However, this season, with a year of experience under their belt and a healthy offensive line, the ‘Jackets are looking to improve on their record from a year ago.
Big and strong, the line, which includes seniors Roberto Cervantes, Seth Davalos, Danny Precidado, Julio Rosales and Juan Valdez, agree that as a group this summer they have been “working hard, get along really well, have a better mentality and need to stay healthy.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by head coach Forrest W. Bateman who said, “The offensive line this year is by far and away our strength. We have lots of returning experience and are very focused on being more consistent as a group and using the physicality that we possess.”
In terms of explosive playmakers who will line up on both sides of the ball, Williams will rely on Julian Garcia, Azael Velazquez, Vairon Gonzalez and Ricardo Medina.
Garcia, a senior, will line up at wideout and cornerback, while Velazquez returns for his junior season as a running back and strong safety.
Velazquez in particular was an important contributor last year as a sophomore finishing with 208 yards rushing and 308 receiving.
Fellow juniors Gonzalez and Medina will be counted upon at tight end and running back respectively, with both seeing time at linebacker on defense.
Called up for five games in 2024, Gonzalez averaged 24.5 yards per catch, while Medina ran for 164 yards or 4.8 per carry.
Direction of the offense this year falls on the shoulders of senior quarterback Matthew Cervantes, who returns for his final season in Williams.
Last season, the Yellowjackets were able to move the ball fairly consistently between the 20s averaging 228.8 yards per game on offense, but struggled to put the ball in the end zone, finishing with just 94 points on the season.
It’s an issue that Bateman and his staff have tried to address in a number of ways including implementing the Gun-T offense, working on improving their reads and cutting down on self-inflicted miscues.
“We need to be better at finishing drives for sure,” Bateman said. “Often last year, we would get into the red zone and struggle to adjust to the way the defense changes. We also have to make sure that we don’t get in our own way with mistakes.”
Defensively, Williams needs to replace graduates Alex Hernandez and Salem Rodriguez who accounted for a combined 98 total tackles, a third of which were for losses.
Yet just like the offensive side of the ball, the ‘Jacket defense starts with the line as well and will look to their leading tackler from a year ago, Rosales, who made 54 tackles in five games along with Cervantes, Davalos, Preciado and Valdez to control the line of scrimmage.
Fellow senior Rigoberto Ramirez, Jr., also returns, having totaled 50 tackles from his linebacker spot in 2024.
Still, hopes are running high around the Yellowjacket camp that they will show continued improvement given that they have a larger coaching staff and a team comprised entirely of upperclassmen.
“Having additional coaches allows us to have much better attention to detail,” said the third-year head coach. “We are more prepared for this season than we have been in the last couple of years and are finally on par with other programs in the area in regards to coaching, so I expect that to reflect in the on-field performance. We also have roughly 20 returning players with varsity experience which makes a big difference in comparison to last year. Furthermore, this group is very motivated to make the changes that are necessary and put in the work to leave a positive legacy for the Williams Football Program.”
With the ultimate goal of being competitive and towards the top of the Mid-Valley League, Williams must stay healthy to achieve it.
Opening the preseason with games against Willows and Mt. Shasta, the road gets tougher from there as they face the likes of county rivals Colusa and Pierce before facing the gauntlet of Mid-Valley League teams beginning the first week in October.
Mid-Valley League
2024-25 record: 2-8 Overall, League 0-6
Playoffs: None
Offense: Gun-T
Defense: 3-4
Facility: McCarl Field
Head coach: Forrest W. Bateman, 3rd season (5-16)
Assistant coaches: Forrest L. Bateman, Guillermo Hernandez, Ben Padilla, Ralph Ramirez, John Chaves
2025-26 Schedule
Aug. 29 @ Willows
Sept. 5 Mt. Shasta
Sept. 12 Colusa
Sept. 19 @ Pierce (Rice Bowl)
Sept. 26 Bye
Oct. 3 Los Molinos*
Oct. 10 @ Portola*
Oct. 17 Hamilton City*
Oct. 24 @ Quincy*
Oct. 31 Biggs*
Nov. 7 @ Maxwell*
*denotes Mid-Valley League game
2024-25 Results
W Willows 21-14
W Mt. Shasta 21-18
L Colusa 0-18
L Pierce 0-49
L Biggs* 24-26
L Los Molinos* 13-47
L Portola* 14-21
L Hamilton City* 7-59
L Quincy* . 16-38
L Biggs* 0-30
L Maxwell * 8-35
*denotes Mid-Valley League game