As Selma High’s varsity football team makes its way into the second half of its game schedule, the team has been working through a challenging start to its season. With a current record of 1-4, the team suffered its third loss in a row, with a close score of 19-14 against the Reedley Pirates as of Friday, September 19, 2025.
With a leading score against the Pirates of 14-0 in the first quarter of the game, and a score of 14-12 in the majority of the second quarter, the game quickly turned around during the third quarter, bringing about a subsequent loss.
“The things that were going through my mind [were] just to push through,” Sonny Rivera expressed, who is a senior and wide receiver in his first year.
“Even though we battled through lots of adversity, I was trying to focus on myself and to do my job. I [felt] the game getting more intense as well.”
In his first year of assistant coaching for Selma High’s varsity football team, Bryan Wilcots explains that he thinks the team has a good environment overall and that if they continue to grow on the right path, it will only get better.
When explaining strategies of overcoming the team’s challenges, assistant coach Kahlil Harshaw explains the importance of remembering the team’s growth and where they’ve come from this early into the season, even in the wins and losses.
“Just that reminder will help [us] push forward, even further,” Harshaw states.
From senior and right/defensive tackle Eric Vega’s point of view, he shares that his strategy consists of keeping his attitude the same and spreading energy and fun to the team when mentally navigating those obstacles.
“If your teammates see you down, the whole ship sinks,” Vega shares. “You gotta fake it till you make it.”
However, despite the difficulties and result, Vega shares that coming out hot for the first half of the game was a highlight of the night.
“I’d describe it as truly having fun for the game we all grew up playing,” Vega expresses.
Wilcots comments, “They work hard, we have a hard-working team. We’re just trying to get our footing, I feel like.”
The current outcome, however, has not diminished the pride and liveliness in Selma High’s O-zone at home games. With student section themes such as beach wear and neon night, participation from students has created more engagement within the stands and thus leading to more encouragement for Selma High’s varsity football team.
With a tone of hope, the Bears are set to face the Immanuel Eagles on October 3, 2025.
Rivera explains that staying in the right mindset going forward into these next games consists of staying present with himself and the team.
“I’m trying to not look ahead and [instead] be more intact with the task in front of us,” Rivera shares. “But [I] just stay positive and know that we’re going to be alright in these next games.”
