Conference champs

On senior night at Honker Stadium, a sophomore stole the show.

The 19 seniors on Yuba City High's soccer team were honored at halftime Monday night, and just about all of them were chanting the name of a kid who doesn't even have his driver's license yet.

Every time Jonathan Trejo touched the ball, the Honker bench, coaches and fans had the same reaction — wow.

Jukes, behind-the-back passes, dribbling skills, Trejo did it all.

When he left the pitch for a breather, Trejo received the chant of "Jo-nny, Jo-nny, Jo-nny."

Trejo earned the praise after scoring all three of Yuba City's goals in the Honkers' 3-2 victory over River Valley to clinch the Tri-County Conference championship.

One of only two sophomores on the team, Trejo was hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates following the victory and paraded down the sideline at Honker Stadium.

"They almost dropped me though," Trejo said. "I was just trying my hardest to score goals and that was the only thing on my mind.

"This meant a lot to me."

Trejo wasn't the only one being showered with love.

Yuba City coach Sean Nelson received the customary Gatorade bath following the win. He guided the Honkers to a conference title in only his second season at the helm of the program.

Last season, the Honkers missed the postseason with their first losing record since 1999. One year later, Nelson has Yuba City back in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the ninth time in 12 seasons. With Inderkum's loss Monday night, the Honkers (13-5-3, 8-0-1) earned the outright conference championship, meaning a first-round bye and home game to open the postseason.

The Honkers haven't lost a match since Sept. 12.

"My guys just work so hard," Nelson said. "These guys are taking it like a job and they know if they want to be a champion they have to go out there and work hard.

"They're not taking anything for granted."

After nearly 50 minutes of scoreless soccer, Trejo scored the game's first goal off a Roberto Juarez assist. Juarez launched the ball on a no-look pass behind his back and Trejo sprinted to the free ball, beating the keeper.

River Valley answered back 4 minutes later with a Castulo Carvajal goal off a deflected cross from Melad Rahim.

Trejo put the Honkers back on top with a laser from 25 yards in the 59th minute. He scored again less than 30 seconds later on an assist from Jonathan Herrera.

R.V.'s Hector Ramos scored with 10 minutes remaining in regulation but the Falcons couldn't complete the comeback.

"(Trejo) is doing a lot of work for us," Juarez said. "He has a good shot, good touch, he has everything; we couldn't ask for more."

The Falcons (7-6-2, 2-4-2) were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, a year after hosting a first-round game.

This was their second close loss to Yuba City this season. The Falcons lost 2-1 on a goal in stoppage time on Oct. 6.

Coach Abel Franco remained optimistic about Falcon soccer. He's only losing three seniors.

"We'll be back," Franco said. "That's a promise."