Paly (5-2, 2-1) boasted a three-game winning streak entering yesterday night’s football game, but Wilcox’s Charger offense slowly, efficiently, and painfully ended Paly’s hopes of an undefeated league run. A preseason favorite to win the De Anza League of the Central Coast Section, the Chargers (3-4, 2-1) have not lived up to expectations. Friday night, however, proved to be a turning point for them as they ran over, around, and through Palo Alto’s defensive front seven times in a 35-14 victory.
“I think the team needed this,” senior safety Roddy Wilson said. “It showed us what we’re not doing in practice. It’s too bad it happened for our Homecoming game, but I guarantee it won’t happen again.”
Both teams came into the game averaging just over 28 points in what was pegged to be a brutish matchup of extended scoring drives. This proved to be true as Wilcox scored on five of its seven possessions while racking up four offensive series of 70 or more yards.
Paly began the game with an extended drive of its own as senior quarterback Will Brandin marched down the field with a series of short runs and one 40-yard-long bomb to junior wide out Joc Pederson. Nevertheless, the Vikings failed to convert before having to punt. Paly’s special teams, led by senior cornerback Paul Brown, pinned the ball inside the 10-yard line in what would turn out to be one of few Paly bright spots, as Wilcox consistently found itself facing terrible field position.
The Chargers promptly took the ball at the 8-yard line and used 11 plays to advance to Paly’s 9-yard line. On Wilcox’s first pass attempt of the day, senior safety Will Holder made a leaping interception in traffic to save the Vikings from what would have surely been a 0-7 disadvantage. Holder converted Paly’s only turnover of the night into a 20-yard gain before being brought down by a string of Wilcox players.
“They [Wilcox] kept running the veer-option and we just didn’t plug it up,” senior defensive end Andy Maliska said. “They ran the same play over and over and we just didn’t execute.”
It was a disheartening night for the vaunted Viking defense, which has forced six turnovers in the last two weeks. The Vikings’ front seven was unsuccessful in getting to Wilcox’s quarterback and did not record a sack the entire night. Wilcox was able to exploit Paly’s lack of pressure in compiling an astonishing 30 first downs, all the while making the Viking secondary save huge gains with last-second tackles. Brown and Holder led the defense with seven tackles each, and all were necessary, as the Chargers would have converted their shorter runs into huge gains.
“It’s a team game and this one really showed us our weaknesses,” head coach Earl Hansen said. “I think we just need to execute better.”
Senior quarterback Cory Murphy led the Wilcox offense that caused Paly so much trouble with a dual attack of stealthy running and scrambling throws. Murphy ran for 108 yards on 13 carries in addition to completing eight of nine passes for 89 yards. Murphy’s favorite target, senior wide receiver Jarrod Lucas, hauled in five catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
“They [Wilcox] played great,” Hansen said. “They really struck with their plays. They executed very well while we didn’t make plays.”
While completing eight of nine passes would be impressive on any night, the Wilcox rushing attack stole the show as the Charger stable of running backs piled up 299 yards. Junior Anthony Herrera led Wilcox with 150 yards on 26 touches while also chipping in one touchdown. Junior Anthony Pohahua and senior Ruben Zendejas added to this total with 41 yards on nine carries. Wilcox amassed a ridiculous 7.29 yards per carry average in exposing Paly’s largest flaw.
“Their [Wilcox’s] line just got off the ball very well and got into our linebackers very effectively,” Holder said. “Then, they had very hard running backs who just tore us up. In the future we just need to be more physical and make our reads quicker.”
Despite the fact that Paly’s defense could by no means keep up with the “veer-option” attack of Wilcox, senior running back Sam Tompkins-Jenkins caused the Charger defense fits with 133 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries for an astonishing average of 11.08 yards per carry. Tompkins-Jenkins also provided the highlight of the night for the Viking offense with a 57-yard touchdown dash on the final play of the second quarter. Junior running back Terry Beasley also added nine runs for 34 yards.
“The backs, I’m very happy with,” Hansen said. “The offense and special teams played very well, but the defense was the culprit tonight.”
The prolific rushing assault received little offensive support from the passing game as Brandin hit the turf six times on his way to completing eight of 13 passes for 81 yards and one interception. Nevertheless, Pederson registered yet another strong game as he caught six balls for 77 yards.
The De Anza League currently sports four potential CCS teams ranked within two games of one another with only three games left to play. Palo Alto has fallen out of first place with this loss to Wilcox, but it can redeem itself next week with a win at league-leading Milpitas at 7:30 p.m.