Williams gave it everything it had last Friday night at McCarl Field against a surging East Nicolaus team, but it just wasn’t enough as they fell 27-6 in the first round of the Northern Section CIF Division IV playoffs.
Unquestionably, the No. 3 seeded Yellowjackets held their own for the first half of play, but their struggles with the run, coupled with some ill-timed mental errors, saw the No. 7 Spartans pull away in the second half.
Jayr Ramirez, in his last appearance for the brown and gold, accounted for Williams’ only points, taking it in from a yard out, in the final minutes of the game.
Despite the loss, it has been a season to remember for the ‘Jackets, who finished with an 8-3 overall record, and as the undefeated Mid-Valley League Champions.
In their best finish since 2018, the Yellowjackets showed continued growth and increased confidence, something head coach Jeff Lemus sees as a positive sign for the future.
“I was proud of the effort and willingness of our boys to play the entire game,” Lemus said. “East Nic was physical up front and ran the ball well against us. I am disappointed for our seniors, but they should be proud of how well they played. As a coach, I couldn’t be happier for our boys and the success they had this year. They had an unbelievable season and proved that we are heading in the right direction as a program. “
While the ‘Jackets will graduate some of their most prominent playmakers, they return a strong crew, which includes Jose Campos, Mateo Gutierrez, Ty Howell, and Izael Velazquez, who they will count on to lead the way next year. ■
