The Sweetwater High School football family would have preferred a different ending to last Saturday’s Division 6-A state championship game at El Camino College. But, as it is said, it is what it is, and the National City team still has to feel mighty proud of its accomplishments in an otherwise history-making season.
The storied Red Devil teams of 1983-85 will forever live on in lofty grandeur. But the 2023 edition of the Red and Gray was the first team to represent the school in a state football championship game.
That’s history is its own right.
Sweetwater hung close in the opening stages of its match-up against an undefeated Colusa Redhawks squad but ultimately came up on the short end of a 33-17 score.
Colusa, from the Sacramento Valley area, finished its own memorable season 14-0. Sweetwater, the San Diego Section Division V champion, finished 8-7 following a 0-4 start.
A lot has to be commended on the Red Devils’ behalf.
“It was an amazing run for our Red Devils,” SuHi head coach Ervin Hernandez said. “The boys made history and I am so glad they got so much coverage and put National City in the spotlight. Counting our scrimmage, we were in Week 16 and it was challenging keeping everyone healthy (injuries and sickness) that final week. We also had a few injuries during the game that affected us.
“Add the day game and warm temperatures, we didn’t play our best game of the year. However, no excuses, hats off to Colusa. They played well, they’re unbeaten for a reason, and they had a solid game plan moving the ball on offense and stopping our run on defense.
“Overall, we overcame an 0-4 start to become San Diego Section Division V champions and Southern Section Division 6-A regional champions. Even though we didn’t get the result on Saturday, our boys made our school and National City proud. I couldn’t be more blessed than to be called their coach. I will remember these seniors, as they were freshmen my first year as a head coach going 5-0 during the COVID season. They got to stamp their legacy in our 103-year school history.”
Sixteen games at the high school football level is a very long season. Even at the college and professional ranks, 16 games is long stretch to keep everyone healthy and in good working order.
The Red Devils entered last weekend’s state championship game under the weather with illness and lost three players during the game to injury.
But Hernandez’s team proved resilient.
Colusa scored on its opening drive to take a 6-0 lead, but Sweetwater responded on a 64-yard scoring run by senior Xzavier Crews and an ensuing two-point conversion by Crews.
8-6 Red Devils.
The Redhawks came right back to score again to lead 12-8. Sweetwater responded with a 22-yard field goal by junior Giovanni Aceves after reaching the Colusa five-yard line.
12-11 Colusa.
Things began to unravel a bit from there.
Senior Aiden Selover advanced the ball to the SuHi 16-yard line on a kickoff return. He scored on a one-yard run to cap the short drive to record his second touchdown of the half and his second of what would be three touchdowns in the game.
Sweetwater entered the game as the No. 1 rushing team in the state, No. 5 in the nation. The Red Devils, averaging 375 rushing yards per game, were held to 248 yards against Colusa.
Xzavier Crews finished the game with 11 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns while senior Izell Wright had 13 carries for 54 yards. Senior Carlos Delgado had four carries for 37 yards. Junior quarterback Zaryan Crews rushed 12 times for 37 yards and completed two of eight passes for 17 yards (nine yards to Xzavier Crews and eight yards to Delgado).
Colusa rushed for 103 yards and passed for 130 yards. Delgado keyed SuHi with 11 tackles while senior Gilberto Sarabia recorded one sack and one caused fumble.
Sweetwater was relegated to playing catch-up the second half.
Xzavier Crews finished the season with 21 rushing touchdowns and 1,637 rushing yards.
