Senior running back Dre Hill stiff arms a defender in Paly’s 27-21 loss to Archbishop Mitty High School at Foothill Community College on September 16, 2011.
– Matt Ersted
The Palo Alto Vikings (1-1) fell to the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs (2-1), 27-21, in a closely fought game at Foothill College tonight.
This is the Viking’s first loss since 2009; the team had won 14 games in a row prior to today’s defeat.
The game started out as a defensive struggle, with neither team scoring during the first quarter.
With 11:48 left in the second quarter, Archbishop Mitty running back Bobby Marani found the end-zone on a two-yard run up the middle, giving the Monarchs an early 7-0 lead.
The Vikings tied the game with 7:15 left in the half on a three-yard touchdown run by running back Dre Hill.
However, the Monarchs responded with two touchdowns of their own before halftime: an 18-yard interception return by defensive back Cail McClenahen and a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Barna to wide reciever Joe De Cecco.
The Vikings opened the second half strong with an 83-yard drive down the field capped by a nine-yard touchdown run by Hill, closing the gap to seven points.
With 10:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, Paly tied the game on a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Keller Chryst to running back B.J. Boyd.
However, less than a minute later, Barna found McClenahen for a 72-yard touchdown pass, giving the Monarchs a 27-21 lead. The extra point was missed.
Paly was unable to find the end-zone again, with their last offensive play being an interception thrown by Chryst.
Archbishop Mitty head coach Matt Haniger was satisfied with his team’s performance against the Vikings.
“It’s a big accomplishment for our team,” Haniger said. “It was a nice job for the kids, we’re a really young team and I like the way our guys are rising up to challenges.”
Paly remained confident despite the loss, already looking forward rather than focusing on the loss.
“We should have finished in the end,” sophomore quarterback Keller Chryst said. “We are just going to come back stronger and better. We are not going to lose again.”
Paly’s next game will be at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Gunn, in a renewal of its crosstown rivalry. Last season the Vikings won in a dominating fashion, 49-14.