On a cold Senior Night, the Palo Alto Vikings football team clinched a playoff spot and flexed its muscle, handling the Los Altos Eagles in a dominating 49-17 performance.
“It [The Homecoming game] was a chance for us to celebrate and honor our parents and coaches and say thanks for everything,” senior defensive end Dom Powell said.
After a pre-game ceremony, Paly seniors made it obvious that they were playing with a special passion and intensity. Quarterback Will Brandin dumped the ball off to senior fullback Sione Mataele who rumbled for 25 yards, and his first of 3 long receptions. While Brandin was sacked and the Viking offense was forced to punt, the Viking defense came back quickly
On the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage, Paly senior defensive end Kevin Johnson picked off a pass from opposing quarterback Daniel Young and returned it for 15 yards for a Viking score.
“We knew their quarterback is the best in the section. We just tried to put pressure on him and make him uncomfortable,” senior linebacker Jordan Jefferson said.
However, the Eagles responded quickly, showing off their star quarterback and the league’s leading pass offense. After converting at fourth-and-one, they again overcame the odds on fourth-and-fifteen when Young nailed Eagle receiver Kenneth Peterman over the middle for a 27-yard score to tie the game.
When Paly junior Harry Woolson returned a botched kickoff for 65 yards, the Viking offense was in a good position to take the lead back. But back-to-back holding penalties reversed a Mataele touchdown and set the Vikings back a considerable distance. However, they would not be denied of a score. Brandin floated a ball into the front corner of the end zone as senior wide receiver Brooke Seamen got underneath it and held on, putting the Vikings up, 14-7.
“They gave us single coverage and we have a lot of weapons at wide receiver,” Brandin said of the night’s surprising offense. He finished 9 for 14 and totaled 207 yards, tossing two touchdowns without an interception.
After a slow drive of 16 plays and 68 yards, the Eagles responded, booting a 21-yard field goal.
The offensive machine was back in business when Mataele caught his second long screen pass of the night, this one for 33 yards. Brandin then connected with senior receiver Mike Scott for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
After the Eagles turned the ball over on downs around midfield, the Vikings were once again aided by a screen to Mataele who took the ball all the way to the 2-yard line. On first down, Brandin went back to Mataele who took it in for a touchdown, putting the Vikings up, 28-10.
The Eagles went four-and-out on their next possession and the Vikings continued to pile up the points. A ten-yard pass to junior tight end Will Holder set up another touchdown pass to Scott, this time for 19 yards.
On defense for the Vikings, junior linebacker Malcom Bailey recorded an early sack and two tackles while filling in for injured senior linebacker Donnie Salas.
“They [teammates] really helped me out. They played great,” Bailey said. “Everybody did.”
Mataele finished the night well under his average rushing statistics. He finished with 6 carries for just over 20 yards, because the Vikings focused on a mostly aerial attack.
Sophomore running back Tyrell Walker was called up this week to fill in for overworked senior James McCullough. While he did fumble once, he also displayed some of his speed and quickness, earning 20 yards on just two carries.
Senior running back Brandon Boyd once again dominated the second-half ground game. Boyd ran for 69 yards on six carries and added a fourth quarter touchdown which put the Vikings up 48-10.
The sprinklers turned on during the Eagles last drive with 2:00 remaining, delaying the game until the Paly grounds crew could fix the problem.
The Eagles added a late, fouth quarter tuchdown to conclude the nights scoring.
The Vikings will next play Friday at cross-town rival Gunn, at 7:30 p.m.
“Anything can happen, you never know,” Scott said sarcastically of the upcoming game, “They are going to come out with their best tricks.”