CIF-Central Section: Late score, defensive stop lifts Central Valley Christian past Kingsburg

KINGSBURG, Calif. — Another week, another Central Section classic. 

The game between unbeaten and ranked squads, the No. 5 Central Valley Christian Cavaliers and sixth-ranked Kingsburg Vikings lived up to the hype Friday night. 

Bryson Donelson scored on a 5-yard run with 1 minuted, 3 seconds left, wiping out a 26-21 deficit and giving the visiting Cavaliers a 27-21 win. 

CVC's defense held the Vikings on a final drive to capture the win and remain undefeated on the season at 8-0. CVC hosts Washington Union next week. 

Max Bakker finished 16-for-29 for 169 yards and two touchdowns and Donelson had 19 carries for 81 yards and the other two touchdowns for Central Valley Christian. 

Zach Zwart had eight receptions for 76 yards and the two touchdowns from Bakker.  

“It was awesome to be able to contribute tonight,” Zwart said after the game. “This was a big game for us and a big rivalry and it was a fun game.”

The Vikings fell to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the Tri-County conference. They travel to Reedley next week. 

The Cavaliers got on the board first when Bakker connected with Zwart on a 20-yard touchdown early in the first quarter to give the Cavaliers a 7-0 lead. 

Kingsburg tied the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter when Ethan Winslow connected with Wyatt Boyd on a 41-yard touchdown pass.

Donelson rushed for his first score of the game later in the second quarter to give CVC a 15-7 lead after a successful two-point conversion attempt. 

Winslow ran a sneak from the 1 to cut the CVC lead to 15-14 at halftime.

The Cavaliers received the opening kickoff of the second half looking to take control. On the possession, Bakker was intercepted by Kingsburg’s Dennis Gagnon at the CVC 44. 

On the next play, Winslow connected with Conner McFall to give Kingsburg its first lead, 20-15 with 10:04 left in the third. 

The lead didn't last long. 

CVC immediately responded to take a 21-20 lead when Bakker and Zwart connected on a 24-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. 

Kingsburg once again responded on their ensuing possession when Trace Jackson raced into the end zone from 29 yards away to give the Vikings a 26-21 lead with 6:35 left. 

A two-point conversion attempted failed. 

The Cavaliers down 26-21 with 53 seconds left in the game, scored to take the lead when Donelson ran in a 5-yard touchdown to go up 27-26. 

Kingsburg had one final drive, starting from its own 30. The Vikings got to the CVC 47, but a long fourth-down pass from Winslow fell incomplete. The Cavaliers ran out the clock. 

“We just had to keep pushing and we played a heck of a game,” Donelson said. “Our crowd was pushing; their crowd was pushing, and we were just building off the energy.”

Despite the loss, Kingsburg head coach David Wilson was happy with how his team performed against a tough opponent. The Vikings did a nice job containing Oregon-bound defensive linemen Jaeden Moore, who had 17 college offers. 

“We play good football here at Kingsburg and CVC knew they would be in a fight,” Wilson said. “It was a fight, but we had our opportunities and that was a bit frustrating. It is a gut-check for our program because we have lofty goals, and those goals are still in play. If tonight proved anything it just proved that we could play with the best in the Valley and we are excited about it.”

Kingsburg was led by Winslow who finished the game 17-for- 29 for 231 yards and two touchdowns. 

Jackson had 16 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown and Boyd contributed five catches for 101 yards and another score. 

McFall added five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Donelson, playing in just his third game after having to sit out due to transfer rules, said that the battle against Kingsburg was a great test for the team. And himself. 

The first two games, the three-star recruit with offers from Fresno State, San Jose State and New Mexico, had already piled up 432 rushing yards on 19 carries (22.7 average) and six touchdowns. He also added four catches for 114 yards and a TD again Selma in a 64-13 win. 

“Our chemistry makes us good. We are all like brothers,” Donelson said. “This game gives us experience that we need going forward the rest of the season. We are all exhausted we now know what it feels like to fight all four quarters.”

Postgame interviews 

Here are photos from Friday night's game in Kingsburg:

All photos by Richard Posada