At the Homecoming game and its senior night, the Palo Alto High School football team (6-3, 3-2)defeated Mountain View High School (7-2, 3-2), 36-7 Friday, allowing the Vikings to maintain their spot as third in the De Anza league and keeping them on track to compete in Division 2 of the California Interscholastic Federation Central Coast Section.
The Vikings exhibited their strong defense throughout the game, which kept the Spartans scoreless in the second half.
In the first quarter, the Vikings took the lead early as senior wide receiver and cornerback Junacio Henley recovered the ball from the Spartans and scored a touchdown five minutes into the game. Senior tight end and defensive tackle Louis Passarello then earned two more points through a two-point conversion. At the last minute of the quarter, the Spartans scored their first and only touchdown of the game.
The Vikings stayed strong offensively and defensively in the second quarter. Senior wide receiver and cornerback Jamir Shepard scored a touchdown five minutes into the quarter, with strong defense from Passarello and senior free safety Creighton Morgenfeld. Senior wide receiver Colin Giffen scored another touchdown to end the half with the Vikings in the lead, 22-7.
The third quarter brought another touchdown from Giffen, after intercepting the Spartans' pass and running the ball down the field, bringing the score to 29-7. Sophomore quarterback Danny Peters made several long runs down the field, although Paly was unable to score off them.
In the last quarter, the Vikings scored another touchdown from senior wide receiver and cornerback Brody Simpson, ending with a final score of 36-7.
Half-time featured performances from the Paly Cheer and Dance teams, as well as the senior class’ spirit dance and a showcase of the floats built by each grade for Spirit Week. The Pep Band also honored its seniors at halftime after its performance.
The Vikings celebrated senior night with a ceremony honoring football players, members of the dance and cheer team, as well as a student assistant athletic trainer. The Pep Band also honored its seniors at halftime after its performance.
“I was ready to come out with my senior guys,” Shepard said. “I was happy. I was ready to go and just ball out for our last home game.”
Senior guard and tackle Alberto Ruiz, a captain of the team, recently underwent surgery and missed the game due to an injury acquired in the Vikings’ previous game, against Los Gatos High School. After the game, the senior defensive end and defensive tackle Bryon Escarsega-calderon FaceTime called Ruiz to let him know the good news.
“That sort of camaraderie and fellowship is what high school athletics is all about,” Athletic Director and football coach Nelson Gifford said. “You never know when it's going to happen, so I tell those seniors and any of the seniors to have fun and make the most of it.”
Currently, the Vikings are third in the De Anza League and are projected to be in Division 2 for CIF-CCS playoffs this year based on their strong season.
Gifford said the teams he projects to play against the Vikings in first round of playoffs for CCS are extremely competitive and well-coached.
“It's going to be a competitive game, but we are looking forward to the opportunity to compete because we do believe we can compete with those teams, even in the games that we've lost.” — Gifford
The first round of playoffs for CCS will be on Nov. 15 for all brackets, however, the teams in each bracket have not yet been determined.
The Vikings will face the Milpitas Trojans at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Milpitas High School.