Friday, Nov. 25, 2011

Dos Palos comes up short in playoffs

Making the playoffs is one thing -- winning in the playoffs is another, as Dos Palos High's football team learned Friday.

Selma dropped the Broncos from the Central Section Division IV playoffs with a 47-23 loss.

"We played hard, and at moments we played well. You just can't throw picks and have fumbles in the playoffs," Dos Palos coach Frank Lemos said. "I really think when we had some things going we'd get a penalty and that put us in a hole. But we played 'em hard and we played 'em tough. Hats off to Selma, that's a good football team."

Selma geared its defense toward stopping DP's workhorse of a running back, Kailan Hill. The senior finished with 74 yards, well below his average. As a result, Dos Palos relied more on the pass.

"For the most part they held Kailan in check," Lemos said. "You try to make up some of that by going to the pass -- and we were effective with the pass -- but when you have to throw and they know you're going to throw, it's hard to get things going."

Meanwhile, Selma's run game was unstoppable -- Stephen Saldate rushed for 203 yards, and Kane Cooper added another 128 rushing yards.

Just making the playoffs made the season a success after DP started out 1-5.

"We were not exceptionally big, not exceptionally fast and our experience level was very limited," Lemos said. "Once we got things going, my biggest regret was not making those adjustments after Chowchilla instead of after Mendota.

"If we'd have made those changes after Chowchilla, who knows what would have happened against Mendota."

Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at (209) 388-6565 or by email at sports@losbanosenterprise.com.[

Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at (209) 388-6565 or by email at sports@losbanosenterprise.com.[