Wildcats quarterback Joshua Gonzales passed for 322 yards and 5 touchdowns Friday night. (File photo by Action Captures Media)
Joshua Gonzales passed for 322 yards and 5 touchdowns, rushed for 50 yards and another touchdown, and Paloma Valley High continued its best football season in 10 years Friday night.
The Wildcats’ 48-34 victory over JW North improved their season record to 6-1 (2-0 in the Sunbelt League). That is the school’s best record through 7 games since 2017, when Paloma opened the season 8-1 in coach Tom Tello’s first season.
This year, under fourth-year head coach Juan Merida – previously a long-time Wildcats assistant – the team has outscored the opposition 207-74. Paloma Valley is averaging 367 yards total offense per game.
“Our success so far has been due to the work these kids and assistant coaches put in all off-season,” Merida said. “The team continues to focus on the process of getting better each day, in all three phases of the game, in order to go 1-0 each week.”
In the win over North, Gonzales threw touchdown passes to Askari Richard (5 catches, 94 yards, 2 TDs), Caleb Alvarado (5 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD), Levin Laban (1 TD catch) and Junior Covarrubias (1 TD catch).
On the ground, Daniel Campos carried 13 times for 92 yards and a touchdown.
For the season, Gonzales has passed for 1,507 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has also rushed for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sean Harrison has rushed for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns. Caleb Alvarado has caught 29 passes for 434 yards and 2 touchdowns. Askari Richard has caught 22 passes for 500 yards and 7 touchdowns.
On defense this season, Isaac Cuthrell has 31 solo tackles, Laban 26, Damon Rowe 25, and Caleb Alvarado 20. Jalil Blair Carter has 4 interceptions.
This Friday, Oct. 16, the Wildcats are home against Hillcrest, which is also 6-1 overall and tied with Paloma Valley for first place in league.
