The Palo Alto JV football team dropped their homecoming game, 14-7, against the Wilcox Chargers, after the Vikings failed to capitalize on their chances to win.

In the week before the Wilcox game, the team’s struggling passing game went through a quarterback controversy, as sophomore quarterback John Keopfogen struggled. It resulted in freshman quarterback Nick Goodspeed getting his first start of his high school career Thursday at home against Wilcox.

Goodspeed showed poise and ability, keeping his team in the game. On his first drive, he connected with sophomore receiver Buddy Teevens for 10 yards to keep the drive alive. However, the offense sputtered and the Vikings turned the ball over on downs.

When Wilcox took the ball, sophomore running back Anthony Hoit began his big day for the Chargers. Slicing through the normally solid Viking defense, Hoit turned dives up the middle into big plays as part of the veer offense.

The Vikings would tighten up on this drive, as freshman lineman Frederick Koloto came up with a big sack on fourth down.

On Goodspeed’s second drive under center, he could not connect with a receiver and the Vikings were forced to punt. However, Goodspeed’s scrambling skills in averting sacks kept Palo Alto in good field position.

Wilcox would not be able to handle the ball on their next drive, as they fumbled on two consecutive plays. The second loose ball, due to a poor hand off, was recovered by sophomore defensive end Nick Rosas. Rosas also came up with two sacks for the day.

"We played alright," Rosas said. "Nick (Goodspeed) is more mobile than John (Keopfogen) and he makes good decisions. He’s comfortable now."

The Vikings were unable to score before time expired. Wilcox held a 7-0 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Rosas kept the Viking drive alive by snagging a shoe-string catch, helping out his young quarterback. However, rookie mistakes took the Vikings out of scoring position. While being sacked, Goodspeed hurled the ball blindly into the air as he fell over, and was consequently penalized for intentional grounding. He was sacked on the next play and the Vikings appeared to once again come up empty handed until the fourth down, when Goodspeed hit freshman receiver Maurice Williams from 25 yards out to tie the score.

"I was kind of nervous at first, but after the first quarter I settled in," Goodspeed said. "My teammates helped me out in practice all week."

Wilcox and Palo Alto then exchanged possessions, as they both punted on their next drives. Wilcox took the ball and drove down the field until Warner jumped the slant route and intercepted the pass. However, on offense Warner coughed up the ball on that same drive, as the Charger’s Hoit jumped on the loose ball.

Wilcox would then score the go-ahead touchdown when their quarterback, jumping and breaking tackles, ran 60 yards around the right side for the score, putting the Chargers ahead for good.

The Vikings would threaten late in the fourth quarter, getting as far as the 3 yard line of Wilcox, but that was as close as they got, as Goodspeed was sacked on third down. On fourth down, his pass to Teevens fell incomplete.

Wilcox successfully ran out the rest of the clock to seal the 14-7 victory.

The Vikings travel to play cross-town rival Gunn, Nov. 6 and then finish their season at home under the lights Nov. 14 against Mountain View.