The Palo Alto Vikings Varsity football team (7-5) look to take home a Central Coast Section title as they take on the Mountain View Spartans (6-6) 1 p.m. Saturday at San Jose City College for the CCS Division 4 championship.

This is the second consecutive year the Vikings have made it to the section championship; however, this year, they made the jump from Division 5 up to Division 4.

Senior captain and running back Jeremiah Madrigal, who was on the 2022 championship team, said he is proud of the group for creating another opportunity to put a banner up.

“Feels great [to be back],” Madrigal said. “Not every team can say they are able to make it this far, especially in back-to-back years.”

According to Madrigal, the team’s hard work throughout the season has prepared them for the moment.

“We’ve understood what’s at stake, but we are treating this just as any other game,” Madrigal said. “We need to keep the same mentality we have had throughout this playoff run: keep playing for each other and don’t let it be our last game.”

Looking into the specifics of the game, Madrigal said that the momentum from the previous wins against Leigh and Seaside is providing confidence in the team’s offense.

“Our offense has been really hot,” Madrigal said. “Our run game has been really strong in these last few games, which allows less pressure on the pass. It’s super difficult to stop our offense, and with us being in this same position last year, we know what it takes to win.”

Junior receiver Jeremiah Fung was called up to varsity for playoffs last year as a sophomore and has been preparing for this moment ever since he got a taste of what the win or go home environment is like. 

“This is my first time starting both ways in a championship game,” Fung said. “I’m preparing just like I would any other game, with music and a focus on winning.”

Fung says that Saturday’s game has more importance to him than just the chance for a trophy.

“I want to keep pushing to put Paly [football] back on the map as one of the top schools in the area, and this is just one step in that direction.”