Under the glaring Friday night lights, Paly football started off strong and never looked back, amassing 49 points while shutting out their cross-town rival, the Gunn Titans.
Paly’s replacement quarterback, senior Jeff Wilson, had a superb game, throwing four touchdowns and finishing with a perfect nine for nine in passing. Senior wideout Mike Scott also had an exceptional showing, totaling three touchdowns, all in the first half.
Palo Alto (8-2) used its final game to gain its momentum for playing in the CCS playoffs. The Vikings used the opportunity to give second- and third-string players some playing time. Both teams started second-string quarterbacks. The Vikings gave junior quarterback Will Brandin a rest after he chipped two teeth in practice earlier in the week, subbing in their backup quarterback, Wilson.
The Titans (3-7) also sat their starting quarterback, senior Stephen Strnad, due to a minor shoulder strain last week. Senior quarterback Josh Lee took his place.
The Vikings took no mercy in the first half, scoring 47 unanswered points. Their first touchdown came on their first drive of the game, where Wilson connected with Scott for a 35-yard touchdown play just two minutes in.
From the sidelines, Brandin liked what he saw.
“We did a lot of good things out there,” Brandin said after the game. “It was a good, solid showing.”
The Titans didn’t get far on their first drive of the game. A pass that went two yards long of its intended mark was intercepted by Paly junior Harry Woolson, and the Vikings regained possession on the Titan 22-yard line. Two plays later, Scott made a shoelace catch and ran it in for the 20-yard score. Senior kicker Tyger Pederson split the uprights for the second time, landing Paly at a 14-0 lead.
Gunn made their only memorable play down two touchdowns when, on fourth and 13, they fake punted, running 15 yards for the first down. Four plays later they were forced to punt.
Paly drove the ball 50-yards, including a 35-yard pass to junior tight end Steven Gargiulo, and scored on Mataele’s two-yard push into the end zone. Pederson’s extra point was blocked, and Paly took a commanding lead, 20-0.
The remainder of the first half saw the Vikings score four more touchdowns by Scott, senior tight end Jordan Jefferson, senior receiver Dom Powell and senior back Chris James. The Titans struggled to generate offense, and the first half ended with the Vikings ahead, 47-0.
Scott commented on the emotional boost the game gave.
“It definitely feels good to go in [to CCS] with the extra victory,” Scott said after the game.
In the second half, Paly pulled out almost every starter. The Vikings let up on offense and their defense generated the only score: a safety on an errant Titan snap. Gunn didn’t have much more luck offensively. The Titan defense couldn’t give Lee enough time to think, let alone throw, and Gunn had to settle with negative 50-yards on offense.
When the carnage was finally over, Paly walked away with the 49-0 shutout win.
Most Paly players saw the game as preparation for the upcoming playoffs.
“We’re fine-tuning, working on routes and preparing ourselves for the tougher teams,” junior wide-receiver Will Holder said. “We give Will [Brandin] a rest, and give some other players some action.”
Paly’s first CCS playoff game is next Friday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Both the location and team is yet to be determined.