Storm keeps Cats reeling

These days, it ain't easy being Stan Hodges, Clovis High School football's first-year head coach.

Following a 54-0 loss to Cleveland High School on Friday, the Wildcats are 0-3 and have been outscored 151-8. The last two of those losses have been mercy-rule defeats.

After the game, similar to the previous two losses, Hodges maintains it's the grueling, early steps which lay the foundation for the resuscitation of "The Beast from the East."

"I know that the best is yet to come," Hodges said while sitting in CHS's film room after the game.

Positivity is essential because the Wildcats could be pacing toward one of their worst seasons in recent memory – if not school history. If that happens, it may be difficult to attract players to join the team and inspire younger generations to play Wildcat football.

Furthermore, a small roster isn't advantageous because players are forced to play both sides of the ball – and through injuries – which limits production.

"Our tailback went to our quarterback position. So we had to move someone into tailback, and then I was also playing like a backup quarterback, but also a backup tailback," said Troy Richter, who played through a brutal thumb injury Friday night. He said it occurred from a helmet puncturing it. "And then our tight end got injured, similar injury to mine. I think it was worse, because I'm pretty sure his bone did something. So we lost our tight end really early."

This is currently problematic because CHS – which moved up a class – is playing against schools with bigger rosters filled with players who're stronger and more athletic. Looking ahead, only two teams are ranked lower than the Wildcats, according to MaxPreps.

On Friday, the gap between Clovis and Cleveland was on full display.

The Storm scored on every position with ruthless ease. Most drives lasted a few minutes. Jordan Hatch, Cleveland's 6-foot-4 quarterback, was rarely pressured and calmly laced spirals through the tightest of windows. Storm running backs Isaiah Yannis and Juan Munoz were a blur of white and teal while scampering through open gaps for touchdowns.

With Kyden Everett at quarterback – an inexperienced sophomore thrust into the role because of injuries – the Wildcats were shut out for the second consecutive game. They haven't scored since the first possession of the year.

At one point in the first quarter, the Wildcats were down 28-0 with over minus-30 yards of offense. Though Everett did improve as time went on, rushing for first downs while vrooming outside the pocket, it did little to inject a morsel of cortisol into the Storm's defense.

The Wildcats never finished a drive on the Storm's side of the field.

"He's a talented kid with limited experience at quarterback," Hodges said of Everett. "So, because of that, there were maybe some things that somebody that had been in that position may have been able to have a little more success."

Hodges added: "If he continues to be our quarterback down the road, or if he has to play that role down the road, then that gives us something to build off of.

In times like this, "down the road" is an important motivational tool because it appears the past is catching up with the Wildcats.

For example, Hodges, who was hired in July, will have a full off-season to prepare the Wildcats for next season.

"I missed out on a chance to be here in the spring and the summer with these guys. And so here I'm trying to patch things up the best I can," Hodges said.

Nonetheless, Hodges isn't worried about anything except improvement.

A deeply religious man, who talks to the Lord multiple times a day, Hodges says he's been reminding himself of the Bible verse Philippians 3:13-14.

"It says, 'No, dear brother, I'm still not all that I should be. I'm bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead as I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize that God has called us,'" Hodges recited.

He then proceeded to slip out of the film room, and into his office with a cluster of CHS coaches. Hoping that a solution can be found.

"In that verse that talks about, 'Hey, no matter if we win by 50 or lose by 50, whatever it is, we've gotta forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead,'" Hodges said.