Who doesn’t love a donut?
Donuts were on the menu Friday night as the Palo Alto High School Vikings varsity football team (2-0) dominated the Oak Grove Eagles (0-2) in a shutout victory, 40-0.
In its second game of the year, the Vikings came out charging with sophomore receiver and defensive back junior Jake Wang and senior fullback and linebacker Joseph Kessler both getting into the end zone in the first quarter. The Eagles, despite the blazing speed of senior quarterback Ryan Wright, struggled to move the chains against the Vikings defense.
Paly head coach Dave Degeronimo says the gameplan they practiced this week worked out.
“Once we got going, the things that we thought would work, worked. And then with the defense, they [the Eagles] just couldn’t really do much early. “ Degeronimo said. “They [the Eagles] got a couple plays here and there to move the chains, but the two interceptions set the tone for sure.”
The pressure from the Vikings continued into the second quarter, though the Vikings did not score in the early part of the quarter. Then, sophomore quarterback Justin Fung threw another touchdown to Wang in the back of the end zone for Wang’s fourth score of the season and second of the night. Sophomore linebacker Mailangi Tongi made a few big plays, including a tackle for loss of yardage on fourth down when the Eagles were close to scoring position.
“It feels great to be back out here making plays for my guys,” Tongi said. “It’s all about practice paying off in the games, putting us in the positions for success.”
In the second half, it was all about senior receiver and safety Jeremiah Fung. In the third quarter, Fung caught an interception and returned it to the end zone for a defensive score.
“It was my second pick of the season in only the second game so it felt great,” Fung said.“I saw white jerseys out in front of me and I knew that my brothers were blocking so it had to be a housecall.
In the fourth quarter, he received a touchdown pass and caught another interception and took it 84 yards for his third touchdown of the game.
“I wasn’t expecting to even get another pick, but I saw the QB roll out and look back across this body and I knew when he threw the ball I had to go get it,” Fung said. “And I took off down the sideline and got a great couple blocks from my teammates and got escorted to the end zone.”
Being up in the Bay League this year, the Vikings’ schedule is much tougher, with schools such as Los Gatos and other Central Coast Section championship contenders.
Degeronimo said that he makes sure the team understands that there aren’t any ‘cake-walks’ coming up for the Vikings.
“I coach with the mindset that we’re playing Los Gatos and Wilcox and Christopher and teams like MA [Menlo Atherton]” Degeronimo said. “So every week, we prepare for the opponent, but we prepare as if they’re the best team in their league. Christopher’s very good, it’s going to be a heck of a home opener.”
The Vikings play the Christopher Cougars 7 p.m. Friday at Paly.
