Saturday, November 2nd, the Foothill Owls defeated Diablo Valley’s Vikings with a final score of 30-27. This win increased the Owls record to 5-2, putting them in a good position to vie for a playoff spot. With scoring, turnovers, and an overtime ending, Saturday’s game was very unique. The game had a decent turnout for the 1pm kickoff, with blue skies and a breeze of 8 mph NW.
The game was full of ups and downs for the Owls, with the crowd at the edge of their seats until the end. Foothill started off Saturday’s game strong, leading the Vikings 7-0. This lead didn’t last long; by the end of the half, the Owls trailed the Vikings 10-14. Foothill’s kicker, Trajan Sinatra, missed a field goal at the start of the second quarter but redeemed himself with a successful attempt moments before the half ended, after the Vikings had scored two touchdowns. The third quarter saw strong plays from the Owls, their defense shutting down all attempts made by the Vikings’ offense. Following a touchdown, a crucial interception was caught by Faapaia Fualema, leading to a touchdown to continue their strong momentum, ending the quarter with a score of 24-14.
The game did not slow down for the final quarter of regulation, with the Vikings scoring two more touchdowns, the second of which crucially missed the extra point. This allowed Foothill to tie the game with a 43-yard field goal by Trajan Sinatra with 3 minutes on the clock. As the clock approached one minute, the Vikings called a timeout that went on unusually long, prompting outrage from the Foothill crowd, who started to boo the referees. Following the quizzical timeout, a punt was recalled due to illegal substitution from the Owls, leading to a first down for the Vikings. This prompted further delay of the game as the refs talked to the coaches, and the crowd began chanting, “Refs, you suck,” adding to the chaos and confusion. Nonetheless, the game continued, and the score remained at 27-27, calling an end to the rollercoaster of four regulation quarters.
Foothill won the coin toss for overtime, choosing to start with the ball. They managed a field goal, putting them into the lead. Following this, they shut down the Vikings with a final sack on the Vikings’ quarterback, Marcus Sanders, calling an end to the intense game. Audience member Erica Callisto, mother of player Leonard Alveres, shared her thoughts on the game: “It was pretty intense, but the defense was awesome. I really believe in this team,” her sentiments echoed by many fans, who loudly cheered alongside her.
Following his talk with the players, Brandon Younger, the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator of the Owls, shared his thoughts: “It was a really competitive game on both sides of the ball. We competed really hard. I think the entire defense played really well. Obviously, our defensive end, Joshua Shanklin, played really well. I hate to give one guy credit because it really was a unit thing, but we had a good performance from a lot of guys.”
When asked about his hopes for the season, he responded: “We feel really good. This is our first year in the national conference; the competition is really tough. But now we’re five and two and second in the division. We’re looking to continue to win until we can make a playoff push.”
Linebacker Alex Briscoe also highlighted the importance of the Owls’ defense, stating, “It was a rollercoaster, honestly, up and down, a dogfight for sure, but we came out on top. Defense stood out today; it was all the defense today.”
Briscoe echoed the sentiments of many teammates and audience members, stating, “We have a lot to look forward to.” This game marks an important victory for the potential of the Owls making the playoffs this season. Saturday, November 9th, the Owls will go up against the formidable opponent, the San Francisco Community College Rams, and ideally cinch a seat in the playoffs. “We have a lot to look forward to,” noted Briscoe, echoing the sentiment of many hopeful players, coaches, and fans alike as the Owls continue to swoop through the season.
