Sutter junior running back Losi Asiata (2) scores a touchdown during the Huskies’ 48-14 victory against Hilmar on Friday, Nov. 21. Photo by Steven Bryla

HILMAR, CA (YSBC) - The Sutter Union Huskies football team punched their ticket back to a section title on Friday, Nov. 22 after they rushed past the Hilmar Yellowjackets in a 48-14 victory.

This was the first time the Sutter program has had a road game in the section playoffs, excluding championship games since 2015 as they endured a long 150-mile road trip to the southern part of the section.

The Huskies made a statement on the opening drive of the game as they won the toss and wanted to receive the opening kickoff. 

Sutter senior quarterback Braden Scritchfield expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that when given the option of winning the toss, he felt confident in his offense and wanted to send a message they were ready to play.

Sutter junior linebacker Andrew Barker celebrates a turnover on downs on Friday, Nov. 21 in the Huskies’ 48-14 victory over Hilmar. Photo by Steven Bryla

“I wanted to light the spark in the offense and we started clicking on all cylinders and they (Hilmar) struggled to stop us,” Scritchfield said. 

The Huskies scored on the opening drive as Scritchfield found senior running back Gary Bicknell for a three-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

The ferocious and stout Sutter defense forced a turnover on Hilmar’s opening possession as senior linebacker Justice White punched the ball out of Hilmar senior wide receiver Leo Nunes hands and Huskies junior linebacker Andrew Barker recovered the ball on the Yellowjackets 35.

Sutter junior running back Losi Asiata extended the lead to 14 as he scored the first of his two touchdowns from eight-yards out. Asiata finished with 120 yards on the ground from 18 carries and was one of three Huskies that rushed the ball for more than 100 yards in the win.

Sutter junior defensive end Troy Bowens (0) makes a tackle on Friday, Nov. 21 in the Huskies’ 48-14 victory over Hilmar. Photo by Steven Bryla

Sutter led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter after Scritchfield found the end zone after scoring on a 42-yard touchdown. 

Scritchfield ended the night with 104 yards on the ground and completed five passes for 65 yards in the air. The Huskies made a statement and the Hilmar stands sounded like crickets.

The Sutter offense was dominant and head coach Ryan Reynolds expressed that the Huskies offensive line dominated up front the entire game. The dominance showed in the stat sheet as Sutter had 13 rushes for double-digit yards.

Huskies senior running back Max Bringgold had six of those double-digit rushes and led the Sutter rushing attack with 122 yards on the ground and added 19 receiving yards in the win. 

Sutter senior linebacker Justice White (15) forced a turnover in the Huskies’ 48-14 victory at Hilmar on Friday, Nov. 21. Photo by Steven Bryla

Bringgold told YSBC that Reynolds challenged him to prove something and he answered the call as he was big on special teams where he had a big kickoff, punt return and had a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the win.

Sutter had a controlling 35-0 lead at the half and the defense controlled the Yellowjackets offense to 124 yards total in the game as they averaged 345 yards prior to the game.

The Hilmar offense began to flow in the second half as they punched the ball into the end zone twice, but the Huskies defense controlled the Yellowjackets and physically wore them out. 

Scritchfield added a 35-yard rushing touchdown and Bringgold found the end zone from 10 yards out were the final two scores for the Huskies.

Sutter returns to the CIF Section V title game for the second-straight year as they’ll take on the Casa Roble Rams on Friday, Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. at Sacramento City College.

Sutter senior quarterback Braden Scritchfield (3) rushes into an open lane on Friday, Nov. 21 during the Huskies’ 48-14 win at Hilmar. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Huskies have multiple sayings throughout the football program that they have lived by throughout the years, but the main focus right now is to finish the mission.

Reynolds expressed during the postgame huddle that they have a lot of work to do and will be going back to the same place where they tasted defeat last year. He added they get the opportunity to get another chance at Casa Roble, who beat the Huskies on 22-9 on October 31 for the Golden Empire League title.

Reynolds told YSBC that the boys have had a chip on their shoulder since the Casa Roble game knowing that they clearly didn’t play their best football.

Reynolds added the Huskies are self-motivated and they wanted that opportunity to rewrite Sutter’s feeling of Hughes Stadium and they had to make a statement against Hilmar.

“We had to make a statement and send a message that were coming,” Reynolds said.

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Sutter junior running back Losi Asiata (2) rushes the ball on Friday, Nov. 21 in the Huskies’ 48-14 win over Hilmar. Photo by Steven Bryla