Football season is nearly at an end with the last few weeks of league approaching. The race for the league title is intense as ever and our own Varsity football team is right in the midst of it all.
The renowned David Maze game was Saturday, October 31, and with it came the recognition of who got to wear the number twenty-one, the David Maze jersey. The recipient of the David Maze jersey was Varsity football captain, Michael La Capria. La Capria contributed a touchdown as well as a handful of tackles in the big game. The Cougars came out of the game with a big win over the Santa Cruz Cardinals, 48-22. Regarding the game, Coach Grant said, “I thought the environment of the David Maze game was great, Michael La Capria was a great choice to get the David Maze award. He is a great senior leader, he has worked really hard, and all of his teammates are proud of him.”
Currently the Cougars stand at 5-4 and 2-2 in league play. The Aptos game ended up being one of the most entertaining ones of the year. The Cougars matched the Mariners blow for blow. Not at one point did any member of the team back down, even when the odds were not in their favor. Standing behind the visiting Cougars was the entire fan section who had made the trek out to Aptos to support their players. The Cougars fans were right there on the edge of their seats the entire game, matching the home Aptos crowd in sound and support. The game came right down to the wire in the fourth quarter where the Mariners scored a late touchdown that seemingly secured the win. The resilient Cougars answered right back with a quick touchdown of their own. The “never back down” Cougar spirit was present to the very last seconds of game. The Cougars ended up losing 28-26, though they fought and represented what our school is truly about to the very end.
The entire season for our Cougars has been one that has tested the boy’s’ abilities and has pushed them to their limits. The season has been tough for the team, though they are within striking distance of the league title as well as a CCS title. They have also come together as a team. They are keeping a positive mentality and working hard. Varsity football captain Jake Hampton says, “We have to work hard for the rest of the year and not give up. We have to keep the same mentality that we have had all year and not take any team for granted.” With the end of the league season upon them, and the possibility of playoffs, the entire team plans to work hard in order to win.
This mentality of hard work runs through the entire football program, including the JV level. The JV football team stands currently at 5-3 and is looking forward to finishing the year off strong. Looking to continue this winning tradition and establish the program, Sophomore captain Trent Walker says, “I have learned that you cannot ever go into a game expecting anything, and anytime you step onto that field you really gotta work as hard you can if you want to succeed.” The SLV football program now turning a corner to return to the dominance that it once experienced, and we are witnessing it for ourselves.
By Ian Blair
The Claw 