Kevin O'Brien
The Palo Alto High School flag football team's offense is lines up in their first drive of the game against the Wilcox Chargers, Tuesday at home. According to Viking freshman Hannah Carnser, The Vikings weren’t taking their opponent seriously enough. “I feel like we got kind of cocky and we thought it was gonna be easier than it was,” Carnser said. “I think we can focus on improving our hustle and having a better game attitude.”
In just their second loss of the season, the Palo Alto High School flag football team (14-2) fell short to the Wilcox Chargers (12-11-2), 9-17, in a defense-heavy match Tuesday, at home.
The game marked the Vikings’ first loss against a league opponent after a nine-game winning streak.
The Chargers began the game by scoring right away in the first quarter, taking a 6-0 lead after failing to convert on the extra point.
After a lackluster first quarter by the Vikings, including an interception thrown by Viking sophomore quarterback Eleanor Wells, the Vikings came out with more intensity in the second quarter, converting consecutive completions. The Vikings capitalized on their momentum with a deep connection to senior Kailia Leming for a 55-yard touchdown.
The Vikings took the lead 7-6 lead after Leming converted the extra point, reaching over the defender’s head for the completion.
Each team kept the other out of the endzone, forcing four straight punts between the two teams.
Finally, the Vikings’ defense let up, allowing a deep touchdown to for the Chargers, who again failed to convert the extra point, giving them a lead 12-7. Neither team scored again until the Chargers converted a third and final touchdown, this time converting the extra point, and winning the game 19-7.
The Vikings will look to avenge this loss, as they are facing the Chargers again in their last game of the season, at 6 p.m. Monday, at Wilcox.
According to Vikings head coach Bradford Exantus, the Vikings defense was good, but the offense had trouble executing.
“Our defense was solid, our defense held us down a lot, and they gave us opportunities but we just weren’t executing them properly on offense,” Exantus said. “We just have to catch the ball that’s it.”
According to Exantus, the Vikings are still in good shape for the playoffs.
“We should be on path to make playoffs, [because] we are still the best team in the league with just one loss,” Exantus said. “We have been so successful because this is a bench that shows up and goes to practice and has a lot of talent.”
According to Viking freshman Hannah Carnser, the Vikings weren’t taking the game seriously enough.
“I feel like we got kind of cocky and we thought it was gonna be easier than it was,” Carnser said. “I think we can focus on improving our hustle and having a better game attitude.”
According to Wells, the Vikings lost because of a lack of effort.
“I think that we didn’t hustle as well as we usually do, and next time we play Wilcox, we’re gonna need to hustle and have a good tempo,” Wells said. “We have to take warmups more seriously.”
The Vikings are in great shape to make the playoffs, with an opportunity of obtaining a high seed. This comes after an extremely disappointing (0-10) season last year.
The Vikings will look to avenge this loss, as they are facing the Chargers again in their last game of the season, at 6 p.m. Monday, at Wilcox.