MCHS Senior Night: football game
Jackson Capone celebrating Senior Night. (Chandler Chang/The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Francisco Linares, staff writer
Maria Carrillo High School went against St.Vincent de Paul on Friday, October 8th. Seniors Jackson Capone, Lucas Sihota, and Logan Bruce were asked by the Puma Prensa about the crucial game against St.Vincent de Paul for the league championship and a banner in the newly designed gym. This game was even more unique because it was senior night. This is the type of night a student athlete dreams of playing, in front of family and friends in a crucial game of the season. You couldn't write a better script.
Talking to Jackson Capone, we asked how he prepared for St.Vincent. Capone said, “We expect them to be our toughest battle so far, but we always practice every week as if it were the most important game.” The Pumas seemed to be treating this as just another game. Logan Bruce said, “We're doing the same stuff we always do; we just gotta keep doing what we're doing.” This year, a tri-country all-star Lucas Sihota said, “We gonna improve on our focus, make sure that we are more focused, and it's a bigger game, so well have fewer turnovers and mistakes.” The Pumas have faced some bumps in the road. It hasn't been easy. Unfortunately, injuries are a big part of the game. The Pumas have had some big ones. They lost Estefan Ramirez, star wide receiver, and senior Hunter Reihl a couple of weeks ago. Bruce was asked about how injuries impacted the team, and he stated, “It's just next man up; we've gotta make sacrifices and play positions they don't play, but we'll be fine.”
Unfortunately, Ukiah was a game just as big, as the Pumas lost that game in a blowout 14-40 in the rain on a natural grass field. Capone stated on this loss, “I feel like I want another fight against them under better conditions, but we made our fair share of mistakes.” Bruce also had something to say about these field conditions: "I feel like we just had a lot of mental issues that game ‘cause of the field conditions; I think we kinda fell apart mid-game.” Carrillo plays on a turf field, which doesn't have much of a difference when it comes to rain, but not being used to playing in the mud can be a huge factor.
As mentioned earlier, Sihota and Capone are both tri-county all-stars, making them some of the best at their positions on the field. The Prensa asked these gentlemen what this meant to them. Sihota said, “It feels like my hard work has paid off, but I'm just beginning; I want to show my family members that I am a good player.” Capone said, “It means a lot because I saw last year and the year before not many people make tri-county from our school, so it’s a great opportunity to be there.”
Most importantly, on senior night, the Puma Prensa could ask what it meant to them and who they would be playing for. Bruce thanked Coach Highstreet and Coach Higgins for his success on the field. Bruce said, “They give you a lot of motivation and are just great people to have around.” Capone thanked his mom and dad for his journey and will tribute this game to them. Sihota attributed his game to his parents and little brother on the junior varsity football team.
A beautiful story for these guys comes to an end at the high school level, but this is only the beginning of a long, successful career. These Pumas played their hearts out but fell short; with another loss, they dropped to the fourth seed in the playoffs and ended the regular season with a two-game losing streak. They play the first seed, St.Vincent, again this Friday, November 22, looking for a taste of revenge. We are still left with a lingering question. Can Carrillo get over the hump and go to a championship game? They made the quarter-finals last year with a worse record. Will we see the Pumas pounce on the championship, or wait another year?