Falcons’ CCS run ends with a gut-wrenching loss to Aptos

 

 

The Falcons’ Cinderella season came to an end on Nov. 16 with a 28-24 loss to the Aptos Mariners in the first round of CCS. The game marked the first home CCS appearance for the team since it began playing its home games on Benny Pierce Field in 2005.

Before the year started, the Falcons were underdogs in the De Anza Division, which is considered to be the best public school league in Northern California.

In the game against Aptos, the Falcons almost clawed back from a 21-point halftime deficit but fell short when quarterback Jonathan Walters was sacked on fourth down with 16 seconds left on the clock.

The Mariners took advantage of the Falcons early in the game. Running the Wing-T offense, the Mariners capped off a 6-minute drive with a rushing touchdown, the first score of the game.

A turnover cost the Falcons on their second offensive drive when the Mariners pounced on a fumble by senior running back Bryson Yates. The Mariners scored again, making the score 14-0.

The Falcon offense again stalled and were forced to punt the ball back to the Mariners. However, on this drive the Falcon defense forced a fumble that was picked up by senior safety Daniel Castronovo. The Falcons then took advantage of their field position at the Mariners’ 30-yard line and finished their drive with a short rushing touchdown by senior running back Ryan Kane, cutting the Mariners’ lead to 14-7.

However, the Mariners’ offense capped off another long, time-consuming drive with a rushing touchdown, extending their lead to 21-7. 

The Falcons again suffered a turnover on their next offensive series, as the Mariners’ defense intercepted Walters’s pass intended for senior wide receiver Kyle Dozier. 

The Mariners took advantage of their position at the Falcons’ 17-yard line and scored another rushing touchdown, giving them a 28-7 lead going into halftime.

After an emotional halftime message from head coach Tim Lugo, the previously sluggish Falcons looked very different in the second half.

The Falcon defense finally figured out the Mariner offense and were able to force a punt on the Mariners’ first offensive series of the second half.

The Falcon offense came out firing as well, and on their first offensive series of the half, moved the ball down the field and finished off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Walters to sophomore receiver Joey Medeiros. With an extra point from senior kicker Fred Feyzi, the Falcons trailed 28-14.

The Falcon defense again stepped it up and forced a three and out for the Mariners. The Falcons drove 44 yards and finished with a short rushing touchdown by Yates, cutting the lead to 28-21. 

The Falcon defense again forced the Mariners to punt and gave the ball back to the red-hot Falcon offense. The offense drove the ball down the field but ended up settling for a Feyzi field goal, cutting the once 21-point Mariner lead to just four with 10:28 left in the fourth quarter. The Falcons forced a turnover on downs by the Mariners and gave the ball back to the offense.

However, the offense did not move the ball well, and the Mariners caused a three and out for the Falcons. The Mariner offense got the ball back, but the Falcon defense stepped it up again and forced another turnover on downs, giving the ball back to the Falcon offense with about three minutes left. Starting out deep in their own territory, the Falcons needed to score a touchdown in order to win.

With the weight of the season on their shoulders, Walters and the Falcons' receiving core moved the ball to the Mariners 3-yard line. However, officials called a holding penalty that backed the Falcons up to the Mariner 25-yard line. From there, the Falcons were unable to complete the drive, and the ball was given back to the Mariners with only seconds remaining, ending the season for the Falcons.

Senior wide receiver Kyle Dozier said that he had a lot of fun with the season and that even though he wished they played another game that he thought the season was very successful.

About the Aptos game, Dozier said that he thought it was a really exciting game to be a part of.

“The first half wasn’t very fun, but it was exciting, it reminded me a lot of Milpitas except we just didn’t close it out,” Dozier said.

Though the team did not do as well as it hoped to in CCS, senior safety Daniel Castronovo said that he will never forget this season.

“The season was amazing,” Castronovo said. “We fought all season, and when we came up short we bounced back. In my opinion I could not have asked for any other people to play with.”