The Paly football team hung on for a close 15-12 win over the Mountain View Spartans on Friday, Oct. 28.

With CCS playoffs only a couple a weeks away, the playoff picture was just beginning to shape up as the competition only continued to intensify.

"We’ll be looking good for CCS [playoffs] if we win," said Paly athletic trainer Stacey Kofman.

A win will in fact clinch a CCS playoff berth for the Vikings for the third straight year.

During Friday’s game, the teams were stuck in a stalemate in the first half until Mountain View junior running back Brandon Hamilton ran in for a 9-yard touchdown with 10:45 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

But Paly junior quarterback Nick Goodspeed would run it in himself for a 1-yard touchdown run finishing off a 13-play, 80-yard drive to make the score 7-6.

"Our offense played well, so we could take a lead and hang on to it," Paly junior running back Will Frazier said.

The punt unit’s performance was another story as it allowed Mountain View sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Shane Cooney to block a punt, which resulted in Cooney recovering it and taking it 33 yards to paydirt and made it 12-7 before halftime.

"Our defense really stepped up to overcome mistakes like that," Paly assistant coach Steve Foug said.

In fourth quarter, Paly senior fullback Roger Prince contributed a 41-yard run, which set up his own 3-yard touchdwon run with 9:02 remaining. After a two-point conversion via a two-yard run by Frazier, the score tipped back into Paly’s favor, 15-12.

Unfortunately, during the drive, Paly junior wide receiver and defensive back Evan Warner took a vicious hit from Mountain View senior wide receiver and defensive back Kevin Metsers.

"It’s a hyperextended knee," Kofman said. "Warner will probably be ready for next week’s game."

Paly’s solid defense continued to dominate as it forced three straight incomplete passes in the Spartans’ last drive, and the offense let time expire to hold on for the victory.

"This was a good test for us because we haven’t had a close game yet," Foug said. "Our defense had to step it up again, and our running game was good in the 3rd quarter. We can’t afford any more mistakes next week against Wilcox, who is number one in our league."

The Viking squad travels to Wilcox next to face the Chargers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4th.