WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – While last year’s Mid-Valley League schedule was not kind to them, Williams forged an identity playing gritty, smashmouth football, that much like actual yellowjackets, was persistent and aggressive.
It is precisely that same brand of football that the ‘Jackets seek to employ again this season as fourth-year head coach Forrest Bateman stated, “We feel that we established an offensive identity last year to be physical. Even though we lost starters to graduation that identity and culture of physicality is still there. We always want to establish that. We might be a little smaller and younger upfront than last year but we are more athletic.”
One of the Yellowjackets’ returners that embodies that particular style is senior Ricardo Medina, a two-way player who was the primary ball carrier on offense garnering 804 yards a season ago in addition to being the team’s leading tackler on defense making 112 total tackles or 10.2 per game.
While not necessarily the biggest guy on the field, Medina plays with unrelenting tenacity on both sides of the ball as he also accounted for seven touchdowns and 22.5 tackles for losses including 7.5 sacks.
Williams will definitely rely greatly on Medina again in 2026, but hope to get production out of junior Javier Saavedra at both running back and linebacker as well.
Senior Gio Velazquez takes over at quarterback having gotten some experience in a few late season games last year and despite attempting just 15 passes, after a summer of getting reps with the first team, he feels up to the challenge ahead.
“I switched off with Matthew (Cervantes) in our last three games and I have confidence in the guys on this team,” said Velazquez. All of the receivers are great and we have been putting in the work trying to get better.”
Two targets Velazquez will have in particular are a pair of seniors in Moises Vargas at tight end and Azael Velazquez at wide receiver.
Players to Watch
One of the things the ‘Jackets are looking for on offense this season is balance given that while they rushed for 1895 yards, they only passed for 499, so trying to even things out has been a priority as Bateman explained, “At times last year we were not balanced enough, so this season we want to make sure we are able to be successful on the ground and through the air.”
Improvement in the red zone is another area of focus for Williams, which despite moving the ball well between the 20s last year, averaged just 12.5 points per game.
Wholesale turnover on the line, due to the loss of five seniors will come with a learning curve, but the Yellowjackets are expecting big things on both sides of the ball from junior Everardo Ornelas whose previous varsity experience came when he was called up for the ‘Jackets’ first round Northern Section CIF Division IV playoff game against Winters last season.
Ornelas, who enjoys competing in the trenches, is optimistic based on the dedication he has seen from his teammates thus far stating that, “When I played against Winters, I noticed that the varsity game is much faster and more competitive than it was on JV, but I take pride in what I do as a lineman. I like protecting people. I’ve also seen a lot more effort in practice from this team and I think that helps create a team bond.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Bateman who commented that, “I have seen more dedication from this group. We have been in the weight room since January working nearly every day. They are committed to being a unit that is together and pushes on and plays complete games on both sides of the ball.”
The Jackets are hopeful that their hard work pays off given the type of football they want to play, and then also allow them to continue building around one of their strengths last season which was applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks.
Williams opens the 2026 season against Willows, Live Oak and Colusa, teams that went a combined 6-25 last season, but it gets tougher after that as they look to bring an end to Pierce’s dominance in the Rice Bowl then embark on a tough slate of MVL contests.
WILLIAMS YELLOWJACKETS
Mid-Valley League
2024-25 record: 3-8 Overall, League 1-5
Playoffs: Lost to Winters in 1st round of NSCIF D4 playoffs
Offense: Gun-T
Defense: Multiple
Facility: McCarl Field
Head coach: Forrest W. Bateman, 4th season (8-24)
Assistant coaches: Ben Padilla, Ralph Ramirez, John Chaves, Guillermo Hernandez, Francisco Zamudio, Jayr Ramirez
2026-27 Schedule
Aug. 28 Willows
Sept. 4 @ Live Oak
Sept. 11 @ Colusa
Sept. 18 Pierce (Rice Bowl)
Sept. 25 Portola*
Oct. 2 @ Hamilton City*
Oct. 9 @ Maxwell*
Oct. 16 Biggs*
Oct. 23 @Los Molinos*
Oct. 30 Quincy*
Nov. 6 Bye
*denotes Mid-Valley League game
2025-26 Results
W Willows 15-8
W Mt. Shasta 14-0
L Colusa 0-23
L Pierce 0-35
L Biggs* 24-26
W Los Molinos* 33-26
L Portola* 13-17
L Hamilton City* 0-42
L Quincy* . 13-21
L Biggs* 22-27
L Maxwell * 21-49
L Winters** 6-47
*denotes Mid-Valley League game
**denotes NSCIF D4 playoff game