Encinal High School’s (EHS) varsity football team received an embarassing comeuppance at the hands of the El Cerrito Gauchos last Friday.

The Gauchos lost to the Jets last year when EHS put a stop to their playoff hopes. Jets varsity head coach Joe Tenorio was present last year as the junior varsity head coach when the Jets ended El Cerrito’s season.

The final score Friday stems from several fundamental problems on the squad. The Jets are plagued with injuries and often players don’t show the dedication required to win, according to Tenorio. “We’ll turn over the ball every chance we get,” he said. “This game is hopefully a big wake-up call.”

With starting quarterback Jonathan Brown nursing a hip flexor injury and the backup quarterback benched for missing practice, Dominique Sashington was given a shot. He showed he could throw, racking up 162 yards and two touchdowns. Sashington hit Jerrell Stewart twice for EHS’s 14 points.

Tenorio’s team’s injuries besides Brown include: Vince Maio with bad ankles; probable this week: Gabe Jamello, swollen knee; likely out for the season: and Sashington who will play despite his bruised knee and pulled hamstring.

As far as his team’s chances next week against Berkeley, Tenorio said, “Their school is four times bigger than ours with four times as many athletes.” But he remains hopeful. “If we bring our best game, we can win. El Cerrito held back a bit, but Berkeley won’t think twice about putting up 100 points against us.”

Of course, the big game also looms on the horizon for the Jets. They will face the Alameda Hornets Nov. 9. Of that match up, Tenorio said: “If we make less mistakes, we’ll win. We have to match their intensity.”