Senior quarterback David Hernandez ran for five touchdowns and threw for a sixth score as host Wilcox defeated Homestead, 61-41, Friday night in an SCVAL-De Anza contest.
"Our line once again played really well," said Wilcox head coach Paul Rosa, singling out the efforts of Michael Dinwiddie and Nick Malvini in double tight-end sets. "The running backs ran well - everybody played well on offense."
Hernandez carried seven times for 136 and five scores and completed 3 of 5 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers (5-3, 4-1 SCVAL-DA), ranked No. 10 in the Prep2Prep CCS Top 25. Junior running back Gabe Herrera added 90 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and junior Ryan Cooper, Jr. caught two passes for 67 yards and a score.
It marked the sixth time in eight games that Hernandez went over the 100-yard mark and he has rushed for a total of 958 yards and 17 touchdowns with two regular-season games remaining.
"Having him two years has made a big difference - he finally got a good feel of what we're trying to do," Rosa said. "Last year he had a good year but this year he has obviously been a lot better."
In addition to the gaudy offensive numbers Hernandez has put up, he has also taken control of the offense and matured on and off the field as one of the team leaders.
"He has a good feel of reading the offense, calling the correct plays - I trusted him a lot more to call plays on the line of scrimmage," said Rosa. "He's just a good kid. He really grew as a player, but also grew as a person. This is just the start of something big for him."
The Chargers amassed 511 yards rushing led by sophomore Paul M Rosa, who finished with 151 yards on 19 carries, once again forming a potent inside-outside duo with Herrera.
"Both of them have had big years," said Rosa. "Gabe is more the grind-it-out type back who keeps the chains moving. Paul is more the breakout type guy. The thing I'm impressed most about them, though, is that they have only fumbled the ball twice all year."
Homestead (3-5, 2-2) was led by senior Andrew Oduor, who caught four passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 47 yards and a pair of scores. Senior quarterback Jack Barden was 5 of 6 for 147 yards and a touchdown.
"Homestead did a pretty good job on offense," said Rosa, pointing out that the Mustangs put in a lot of new offensive schemes during their bye week. "For our second group not to see exactly what we practiced against made it tough for them."
The Chargers go out of league Friday night when they host traditional rival Santa Clara (6-2). Homestead travels to first place and No. 4 ranked Milpitas (9-0, 5-0).