San Pasqual Warriors football off to best start in decades

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) - The San Pasqual Warriors are enjoying their best start to a football season in nearly three decades, and now they have an opportunity to cap that success with a rivalry victory that has eluded the program for years.

San Pasqual enters this week with a 5-2 record, its best season since 1998, and the renewed energy around the program has been evident throughout the season.

Senior running back Dominic Lopez credited the team's collective mindset for the turnaround.

"I think the whole attitude of the whole team is what changed us to be better, because we all pushed each other and helped each other to get up," Lopez said.

Senior quarterback Alfred Cornejo echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team's commitment to improvement and accountability.

"As a team, we knew how to practice and get through practice every day, become better for each other, for this community and then go out there, play games and win on Friday nights," the captain said.

Head coach Miguel Rivas said reaching this point has been a process. Now in his fourth season leading the program, he believes the Warriors have finally developed the cohesion needed to compete at a high level consistently.

"In years past, we'd call a play and they'd run a totally different play...certain players would," Rivas said. "Now, we have everybody on the same page. Everybody is doing what they're asked and they're seeing that as long as that continues to happen, we can continue to be successful."

For senior center Jayden Sisomphou, a four-year varsity starter, the program's rise has been especially meaningful.

Having experienced the team's struggles firsthand, he said the current success is a testament to the work the players have put in over the years.

"Man, it's crazy. We started with nothing...legit from dirt to gold," Sisomphou said. "Everyone's here, they put the hard work in, but some days we just need to work harder, outwork every team."

The Warriors now face what may be their biggest challenge and opportunity of the season when they host rival Antelope with the Telegraph Pass Cup on the line.

San Pasqual has not claimed the trophy since 2003 and will look to end its lengthy losing streak in the rivalry series.

Rivas believes this year's group is capable of bringing the cup back to San Pasqual.

"This feels like the year we could do it," Rivas said. "I told everybody, I think this is the best team we've had in four years. This is my first freshman class, so these kids I've been with for four years, and they've done everything I've wanted them to do since we've gotten here."

San Pasqual's offensive production has been a major factor in its success. During the Warriors' current winning streak, the team has averaged 33 points per game, and Rivas said maintaining possession and controlling the pace will remain key against Antelope.

"The mentality is the same thing," Rivas said. "Come in, call the plays, make sure the kids are working hard, try to control the clock, [try to] limit their offensive possessions, and how long they're on the field offensively, and keep our offense on the field and we can do a lot of damage."

The Warriors will host the 2-5 Antelope Rams on Thursday at 7 p.m. with a chance to continue their historic season, end a long-standing rivalry drought and bring the Telegraph Pass Cup back home for the first time in more than two decades.