Dinuba, CA – The Dinuba High Emperors delivered a statement performance Friday night, defeating the Selma Bears with a final score of 45-10. The Emperors showcased a balanced attack, with great performances on both offense and defense. This win puts Dinuba at a .500 win percentage, with a 2-2 record.
The Emperor offense was firing on all cylinders, as junior quarterback Tony Ibarra led the charge with four total touchdowns, 3 passing and 1 rushing. Senior wide receiver Julian Hernandez caught fire, hauling in two of Ibarra’s touchdown passes. In contrast, senior wide receiver Lorenzo Williams grabbed another deep touchdown, highlighting the strong connection between Ibarra and his receiving corps. Senior running back Nate Lopez and junior running back Jacob Guzman both rushed for a touchdown of their own. Sophomore kicker Manny Garza had a perfect night, as he went 6/6 for extra points. Junior kicker Angel Hernandez drilled a 36-yard field goal, giving the Emps 3 points.
When asked what led to a dominant offensive performance, Julian Hernandez believes it was “from the preparation we put in, week in and week out – understanding who we’re playing, and being able to execute. Overall, just believing in each other, having a good defense that gives us opportunities, and letting our quarterback lead us with good blocking from the offensive line.” This formula for success is what Dinuba strived for.
The Emperors’ defense was equally dominant, holding Selma to just 10 points in 4 quarters. The defensive line was actively rushing the quarterback and making tackles. Junior Leo Vega rushed the Selma quarterback well, causing a sack along with a forced fumble, with junior Martin Aguilar recovering the fumble. The defensive backs also broke up many passes and covered receivers well.
With a win like this, Dinuba gains confidence and heads into a two-game winning streak, heading to Fresno on Friday to play a tough Washington Union team, which is 3-0. The matchup will be a good one to watch, as both teams are recovering from a tough past season. Continue to cheer and support our very own!
