It’s been a tough two years for the Buhach Colony High football program. The Thunder have gone winless, posting back–to-back 0-10 seasons. The program has basically hit rock bottom, according to Thunder co-head coach Kevin Navarra. However, you wouldn’t know it by watching Buhach Colony in camp.

 

Practice moves at a crisp tempo as players bounce from drill to drill. There’s excitement as the season approaches with hopes of turning the program around. “Our kids didn’t give up on the program,” Navarra said. “I think that’s what is important to understand. They’ve got this heart and this drive. They want to be at this certain level and I think that’s what is going to drive them. Coaches can kind of guide them in the right way, but it’s going to come from within based on the success that we have.”

 

Navarra rejoined the Thunder coaching staff last year as the defensive coordinator after stepping down as head coach in 2019 to become the athletic director at the school. He was promoted to co-head coach to work with Matt Granado this offseason. Navarra served as the Thunder head coach for seven years, compiling a 45-30 record, including an 11-1 season and a Central California Conference championship in 2019. Navarra, who brings close to 30 years of coaching experience, also served as defensive coordinator under former Thunder head coach Kevin Swartwood, helping lead BC to three consecutive Central California Conference championships from 2010 through 2012 and a couple deep playoff runs.

 

“I think anytime you're looking at what didn't work over the last couple of years, you have to look in the mirror,” Navarra said. “So I think as a coaching staff, we looked inside and said, ‘Hey, how can we do some things that are better, how can we better prepare our kids?’ So I think when we look at it, we have talented kids, kids who want to work hard, but we have to create that culture.”

 

One of the first things Navarra implemented was early morning workouts. Players had to show up at 6:55 a.m. to lift weights before school. The workouts created a sense of accountability for the players. “I like the level of commitment with this group, the level of team bonding, we’re all with each other,” said senior running back Isaiah Reid. “After the losses, I feel like everyone wants to win, everyone wants it badly and everyone is trying.”

 

Senior Pedro Ramirez and junior Michael Hernandez will anchor both sides of the line. Offensively, the Thunder return junior Dayton Fitzgerald at quarterback along with senior running backs Charles Peterson and Reid. Junior Aeydn Bighom gives BC a big-play threat at receiver and Blake O’Brien will be counted on as a versatile weapon. “We push ourselves hard in the weight room and on the field,” Ramirez said.  “Every day we’re getting stronger. Our coaches are pushing us every day past our limits. Everyone can agree that this year we’re going hard, we’re giving it our all.”

 

Navarra says the BC players, especially this senior class, have been chasing that first win for a long time. They are coming into this season hungry for success. “We've kind of hit the rock bottom with some things over the past couple years,” Navarra said. “Everything moving forward is positive. I think we put that work in from January in the weight room. I think it's going to pay off.”

2025 Schedule

Aug. 22 vs Gregori

Aug. 29 at Johansen

Sept. 5 at Enochs

Sept. 12 vs Ceres

Sept. 19 at Lodi

Oct. 3 vs Atwater

Oct. 10 at Golden Valley

Oct. 17 at Los Banos

Oct. 24 vs El Capitan

Oct. 31 vs Merced

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org. The communications department will be publishing previews on each MUHSD football team as we close in on the start of the season.