On Friday, October 16, the Fillmore High School Flashes JV and Varsity Football Teams faced Royal High School during their 2026 Homecoming games. Pictured above is action from the Varsity game, in which the Flashes shut out Royal, 35-0, holding the Highlanders to fewer than 100 yards of offense and securing first place with two games remaining in the regular season. The JV team fell to Royal, 14-0. The Varsity halftime show featured performances by the FHS JV and Varsity cheer squads and marching band, along with the presentation of the Homecoming Court. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
Darby Schieferle served as the Homecoming Grand Marshal. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
By FHS Head Coach Charlie Weis, M. Ed.
Defense holds county’s No. 10 team to under 30 rushing yards; Perez and Fraga-Sandoval rewrite the record book as Fillmore extends win streak to six
FILLMORE — The Royal Highlanders arrived in Fillmore on Friday night unbeaten and ranked No. 10 in the county. They left with their first loss of the season and without a single point on the scoreboard.
In front of a packed homecoming crowd, the Fillmore Flashes delivered their most complete performance of the year, blanking previously unbeaten Royal 35-0 in a Week 8 league showdown. The win was Fillmore’s sixth straight and the latest chapter in two months of dominant football across all three phases of the game.
A defense that left no room
The Flashes’ defense set the tone from the opening snap and never let up, posting its second shutout in the last month. Royal’s vaunted rushing attack, the engine of its 7-0 start, was held to under 30 yards on the night.
Senior Matthew Zavala was a wrecking ball in the Highlanders’ backfield. He recorded multiple tackles for loss on Royal’s first two drives alone and finished with four TFLs to go with six total tackles.
Junior linebacker Efrain Arenas led the team with 10 tackles and added a tackle for loss of his own. Seniors Jerry Esquivel and Ivan Ambriz chipped in eight tackles apiece as the Flashes swarmed to the football and snuffed out any hope of a Highlander comeback.
Offense keeps rolling
Fillmore’s offense continued nearly two months of brilliance, piling up 438 total yards and five touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Nate Perez was sharp and efficient, completing 14 of 20 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Seniors Saul Fraga-Sandoval and Micah Harm each found the end zone twice. Senior Andrew Estrada added yet another highlight to his growing collection of big plays, hauling in a 54-yard touchdown reception.
On special teams, senior kicker Saul Magana remained automatic, converting all five of his point-after attempts.
Records fall on homecoming night
The night belonged to the record book as much as the scoreboard.
Perez became the Flashes’ all-time career passing leader, bringing his three-season total to 3,359 yards.
Fraga-Sandoval claimed the program’s career touchdown reception record with his 20th receiving score over three seasons. In doing so, he passed one of his own coaches: Flashes wide receivers coach Jarod Uridel, who had held the record with 19.
Up next
The Flashes take their six-game win streak on the road this week to face Dos Pueblos High School. The varsity game kicks off Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m. The JV team plays Thursday, October 22 at 5 p.m.
