Generals open season with win

The Shafter High Generals football team began their 2025 journey with a win against the Exeter Monarchs on Friday night. Shafter showed that they can win when they are not at their best, beating Exeter 22-14.

Led by Head Coach Jerald Pierucci, the Generals, who came into the game as the top-ranked team in the Central Section Division IV, did just enough to top the Monarchs, who came into the game as the fourth-ranked team in the division.

The Generals offense didn't get going in the first half of the game, with quarterback Ezekiel Osborn not being able to find open receivers. Running back Christopher Espinoza was the bright spot in the first half, chewing up yardage for the Generals. But the drives were ultimately stalled by a sack, or by the Generals hurting themselves with penalties in key situations.

The Shafter High defense kept the damage to a minimum with some good play in the half, although several times the defense would have the Monarchs forced into third-and-long situations only to see Exeter get a first down on a long pass play or a penalty. But the Generals' defense did its job and kept the Monarchs out of the end zone, except for one score in the first quarter.

The Generals finally got on the board with under a minute to go in the half, when Osborn hit Maryon Sloan on a crossing pattern and Sloan took the ball into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.

In the third quarter, the Generals showed showed they are capable of great things on offense. Osborn hit a few receivers on passes, and Espinoza and running back Cash Gutierrez found more holes in the second half.

Down 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Espinoza scored on a two-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-13. Shafter missed the extra point, keeping the Generals down by one point.

The Monarchs decided to go for a first down, facing a third down-and-short situation, but the Generals defense made their most impressive stop of the game, giving the Generals the ball deep in Monarch territory.

Espinoza got his second score of the night with another two-yard touchdown run, making the score 19-14.

After stopping Exeter and forcing a punt, the Generals drove down the field with the help of a pass from Osborn to Espinoza and runs from Espinoza and Gutierrez. Shafter's Andrew Avila kicked a field goal, extending the Shafter lead to 22-14. The Generals stopped the Monarchs on their last possession of the game, preserving the victory.

The evening had started on a positive note when the Shafter junior varsity team beat the Monarchs by a score of 21-7.

Shafter will be at home at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, taking on the Arvin Bears, who opened their season with a 35-14 loss to Lindsay.