HESPERIA – For the first time since 2015, Hesperia football has a 2-0 start. The Panthers rolled to a 54-0 victory over Holton, taking home a rivalry trophy and posting their second-straight shutout win in the process.
While a perfect 9-0 season similar to that 2015 team will be tough to achieve, Hesperia Head Coach Tyler Fehler and his team are just happy with the production they’ve had so far. That starts with a core group of seniors who have been with Fehler since he took the helm two years ago.
“Every year coming in, I’m really optimistic. I’m an optimistic guy,” Fehler said. “(Our 2-0 start) makes sense seeing the last two years and seeing the top guys on our team were all sophomores and juniors last year. Now Thor Klaus, Skyler Stalbaum, Ian Fox, Blake Sayer and Noah walker all started for me my first year (in Hesperia). We’re going to be way more of a formidable opponent now because we’re older and stronger.”
From the start, Hesperia’s offensive attack was lethal. Senior quarterback Blake Sayer showed incredible poise and a high football IQ, running an offense that relies heavily on his ability to read the defense and make quick decisions.
More times than not, Sayer made the right decision, picking apart the Red Devils’ defense with ease. Sayer finished the day 9-of-15 passing for 167 yards and two touchdowns passes with his arm, adding nine carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns with his legs.
“I played quarterback in college and was the same type of quarterback (as Sayer) – a dual-threat type of guy,” Fehler said. “I put a lot on him in terms of reading options and who to throw to on what play. I’m not telling him who or what side to throw to. Even though it’s his first year playing quarterback, he is the first out of the last three quarterbacks that I’ve had that has put in a crazy amount of work. It’s paid off.”
Sayer’s connection with senior receivers Ian Fox and Thor Klaus worked to great effect. Fox was a big play machine, hauling in three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Thor did the dirty work over the middle to the tune of two catches for 54 yards and a score.
Hesperia’s offense depended on the men up front to lead them down the field. A combination of juniors Ryan Fuentes and Tucker Billings, seniors Anderson Boes and Noah Walker and junior Keith Nulf acted as a solid wall up in front of Sayer and senior back Skyler Stalbaum.
While Sayer and his receivers moved the ball between the twenties, it was Stalbaum who dominated near the goal line, taking 9 carries for 47 yards and four touchdowns.
“I was really trying to make sure that we came out and just pounded the rock,” Fehler said. “Skyler was going to make a ton of plays no matter what, but I wanted to move (Holton’s defense) five yards down the field before Skyler even had to think about making somebody miss. Our offensive line stepped up today. We usually have one to two rushing touchdowns in a game, but the fact that Skyler had four is because of him and the offensive line.”
Stalbaum was a force on defense as well, leading the Panthers with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. Klaus chipped in nine tackles and a forced fumble while Walker had eight tackles.
The defense as a whole has been impressive through the first two weeks of the season. Hesperia has yet to allow a single point to an opponent and hopes to continue that trend into their next game.
