MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - In professional sports, the “experience factor” is crucial in maintaining a consistent and level-headed approach on and off the field. The experience factor proved crucial on Friday night as well, as Saint Francis topped visiting Palma 40-6.
The Chieftains came into the game with a practically different team from seasons-past; the varsity team had 33 seniors who graduated this past summer, leaving a gaping hole for the school’s rising sophomore, junior, and senior classes to fill. This work-in-progress approach definitely found a benchmark to work off of, as Saint Francis handily dismantled Palma’s new-look offense and defense.
While the game began with the Lancers turning over on downs deep in Chieftains territory, the home side fought back and prevented Palma from progressing further than their own 40. Following the punt, Saint Francis running back Darrell Page broke free and scored the first touchdown of the game less than two minutes after turning over the ball.
“We’re just confident,” said wide receiver Evan Williams. “We’re confident in our practice, confident in the work we put in, most importantly we have confidence in each other, and I think it worked out well tonight.”
The following possession, Palma’s starting quarterback Grant Sergent found passing options few and far between, as short runs by running back Anthony Villegas and a blocked pass by Saint Francis defensive end Joshua Pakola forced a three-and-out late in the first quarter. The Lancers responded firmly, as a 22-yard run on fourth-and-two by Opeti Fangupo set up a 16-yard touchdown run for Lucas Andrighetto with 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
“Our O-line, Hulu [Longahulu Ahoia], Tyler [Manoa], [Alex] Waddell, they all get excited for us when we get that break up the middle,” said Fangupo.
Manoa responded, “It’s all a team effort, we all do good together, good stuff comes out. It all starts from the line. We’re still building it, but everything’s gotten better, and we’re looking up from here.”
In the second quarter, the Lancer offense switched gears as quarterback Reed Vettel began to find targets in the passing game. A 25-yard reception by Williams set up a 21-yard touchdown run for Page less than two minutes into the quarter. A turnover on downs by the Chieftains with less than two minutes remaining in the half sparked a series of five completed passes, with Pakola (3 receptions, 39 yards), Maurice Wilmer II (1-23) and Sebastian Carrillo (1-8) each chipping in. A two-yard touchdown run for Fangupo capped a 72-yard, 1:16 long drive and put the Lancers up 27-0 at the half.
Palma’s offense began to gain some traction after the Saint Francis second team offense and defense took the field, tallying 157 yards in the second half (more than double the 72 yards it posted in the first half). Catches by junior Marco Pezzini (2-36) and seniors Zachary Taylor (2-22), Dominic Scattini (2-15), and Casey Edwards (5-68, TD) gave quarterback Grant Sergent (12-26, 146 yards) plenty of short-range passing options. Junior Matt Morales and sophomore Jon-Jon Berring provided extra yardage on the ground, bringing the Chieftains' rushing total to 83 yards on 23 carries.
For the Lancers, the run game gave the second-team offense time with possession and took time off the clock. A 35-yard run by Page gave him his third touchdown on the night (his CCS lead-tying fifth on the season) early in the 3rd quarter and put the Lancers up 34-0, prompting the change in lineup. However, runs by juniors Anthony Smith (8-26) and Thomas Whitenight (3-63, TD), kept the offense moving.
Saint Francis’s bid for a shutout held up until the very last play, as a 35-yard reception at the buzzer by Edwards put Palma on the board, resulting in the end score of 40-6.
Palma (0-1) looks to bounce back at home against Menlo-Atherton (0-2) on Friday, September 8 at 7:30 P.M. Coming off their comeback win over St. John’s (Washington D.C.), national powerhouse De La Salle (2-0) proves to be Saint Francis’s (2-0) toughest test yet as they meet in Concord on Friday at 7:30 P.M.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” said Manoa, “but the last two games have helped us build chemistry. We hope to make something of it.”
