Sutter senior linebacker Jeevan Chatha (37) looks to tackle Hughson senior running back Alexander Villarreal in Sutter’s 21–14 defeat to Hughson on Friday, November 17.

SUTTER, CA (MPG) - The Hughson Huskies were the second consecutive Trans Valley League team to end the Sutter Huskies season after defeating Sutter 21-14 in the semifinals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs on Friday, November 17.

Sutter sophomore running back/safety Justin White (15) bursts through an open lane in the Huskies 21-14 loss to Hughson on Friday, November 17 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinals.

The battle of the Huskies couldn’t have asked for a better support system than both sidelines cheering for their communities as noisemakers made the impact on the game in the first half to where the referees mandated that only clapping and noise cheering would be allowed in the second half as it was too loud for players to not be able to hear the whistles on the field.

Sutter sophomore running back/safety Justice White (15) goes towards the edge in the Huskies 21-14 to Hughson on Friday, November 17.

The Sutter defense started the game off with a huge goal line stand as they forced the Hughson offense to turnover the ball on downs on their first offensive possession on the Sutter three-yard line.

Sutter junior running back Marcus Meras (5) looks upfield to follow a block in the Huskies 21-14 loss to Hughson on Friday, November 17.

Each possession was key in the game as each team had limited chances to score and Hughson did a great job of mixing the pass and run for lengthy drives as they had a couple long six-plus minute drives throughout the game.

Hughson went into the half with a 7-0 lead as junior quarterback Robert Mcdaniel found junior wide receiver Malakai Sumter for a 3-yard touchdown pass.

The Sutter defense held strong again in the closing seconds of the first half as they forced the Hughson offense to turnover the ball on downs on the one-yard line and keep the Hughson lead to seven.

Sutter senior defense end Auckland Asiata (44) and senior linebacker Jeevan Chatha (37) apply pressure to Hughson junior quarterback Robert Mcdaniel in Sutter’s 21-14 loss to Hughson on Friday, November 17.

Sutter head coach Ryan Reynolds told the Dispatch that it was going to be a dogfight and they had to play flawlessly during the game.

Although the weather was wet throughout the game l and made the ball slick at times, both teams still threw the ball and ran the ball effectively as there were zero interceptions or fumbles in the game.

Reynolds was correct as Sutter needed to play flawlessly as Hughson played a perfect game and didn’t make any mistakes throughout the night as Mcdaniel went 13-for-21 passing and senior running back Alexander Villarreal rushed for 160 yards off 26 carries.

Hughson extended their lead to 14 with a tad over four minutes to go in the third, but Sutter got on the board quickly after that as junior running back Marcus Meras scored on a 12-yard touchdown rush to cut the Hughson lead back to seven.

Reynolds told the Dispatch they had opportunities, but they just couldn’t execute some plays on drives to keep the ball out of the hands of Hughson.

Meras added the other touchdown late in the fourth quarter off a seven-yard rush and had 66 yards on the ground with the two scores.

Sutter sophomore running back/safety Justice White rushed the ball 10 times for 99 yards in the game and had some big runs that sparked the Sutter offense throughout the game.

Sutter senior quarterback Jagger Beck completed four passes for 76 yards. Defensively for Sutter, they had three players in double-digit tackles that included junior linebacker Mason Cartwright (11), and senior linebackers Jeevan Chatha (14) and Josh Garvin (11).

As the class of 2024 Sutter seniors careers are done, the memories that Reynolds has will continue on as he expressed the game against McQueen on September 1 was a good memory because they came back from down three scores to win.

“It didn’t phase them (trailing in the game) and that’s how you know you have a special group of guys,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds added as he will miss the players graduating this upcoming spring but is excited about their returning pieces next season. He added the sophomores who got pulled up for playoffs this season can experience and fuel their motivation for next season.

Defensively, Sutter will graduate the entire defensive line and Reynolds told the Dispatch he is excited about the incoming line coming from the junior varsity level.

Sutter brings back a solid roster next season and will move to the Golden Empire League for competition due to new realignment beginning next school year where they will play Casa Roble, Dixon, El Camino, Natomas, Rio Linda and Woodland. Casa Roble plays Twelve Bridges for the CIF SJS Division V title today in Sacramento.

Offensively, the Huskies have plenty of options of opportunities to put points on the board next season, but all questions of the 2024 Huskies will be answered in the next nine short months as the boys of fall will return.