Homecoming football game
The Maria Carrillo Pumas set up to defend the Analy Tigers (Sophia Hughes, The Puma )
By Sophie McGarva, staff writer
The Maria Carrillo High School football team kicked off Pinktober a couple of days early with a fierce, yet disappointing 21-37 loss to the Analy Tigers. The Homecoming football crowd was filled with spirit as Puma fans showed up wearing pink beads, pink glasses, and pink clothing in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Varsity Coach Jay Higgins reported that he “..loved the crowd turnout. [He’s] really proud of the school, the student body, and the parents for coming out in such great numbers. [The team] really appreciates it and [he] thinks the players absolutely respond to the energy that the crowd brings.”
The energy that Higgins was talking about definitely showed on the field. It was electric as captains Nehemiah Holiday, Brady O’Shea, Nick Harryman, and Noah Lane took the field for the coin toss. Analy quickly took the stand's enthusiasm down a notch when they ran the opening kickoff all the way to the Puma eight-yard line and then, 16 seconds into the game, scored their first touchdown.
The Pumas fill the stands with all shades of pink (Sophia Hughes, The Puma Prensa)
The Pumas started their first drive of the game with a fumble and then, luckily, a recovery. After a couple of first downs from Lucas Sihota and Wyatt Olsen, the drive was killed by penalties and the Pumas were forced to punt the ball away. Sihota stood out as an outstanding special team player with his punt toward the end of the 2nd quarter landing perfectly on the two yard line. He was able to do so well because he stayed “relaxed throughout the week” and told himself it was “just a normal game, even though it was really important” to stay calm and focused. But, despite the distance of the kick, the Tigers were able to put another touchdown and two point conversion on the board making the score 14-0 at halftime.
During the packed halftime, there were amazing dances from both the Advanced Dance Team and the Varsity Cheer Team, along with presentations of the Homecoming nominees and crowning of the winning couples. MCHS Athletic Director Jerry Deakins says he believes this was the largest sale of tickets in Puma football history with a packed snack bar that sold out of the Chick-fil-A and Crumbl Cookies during the first half. The band playing in the stands made the environment even more exciting.
The liveliness helped sophomore quarterback Cooper Bluestone come out strong in the 3rd quarter, converting two fourth downs to keep the drive alive leading to a 12 yard touchdown run by Sihota to get the Pumas on the board. The extra point was good from senior kicker Landon Ruggles. A sack by Domenic Kayed and some strong defense stopped the Tiger’s drive and the Pumas started back on offense with a beautiful 35-yard spiral from Bluestone to Beau Gleeson, who dragged his feet, barely staying inbounds with the catch. Despite some strong runs by Evan Ehly and Sihota, the Pumas had to punt the ball and the Tigers were able to capitalize making the score 21-7. On the next drive, however, the Pumas would again use Sihota, Ehly, and Olsen to march down the field with Sihota bringing the ball to the one-yard line and Olsen carrying it in for the touchdown. It appeared that the Pumas were mounting a comeback, but on the next punt, the Tigers would run the ball 90 yards back for a touchdown and regain their two-score lead at 28-14. As the third quarter wound down, the rain started to fall, the band went quiet and the crowd started to thin.
Lucas Sihota standing in the endzone after a touchdown. (Sophia Hughs / The Puma Prensa)
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Olsen would go on to score one more touchdown for the Pumas (followed by a brief non-school sanctioned fireworks display coming from the baseball field during the game) and Analy would answer with a touchdown and a safety to end the final quarter.
Although it was a tough Homecoming loss with a final score of 37-21, the Pumas put up a great fight showcasing many offensive, defensive, and special teams talents on the field. It was also an outstanding night for kicker Landon Ruggles with all three extra points counting. Coach Higgins believes that the two punt return touchdowns and a couple of tough personal fouls caused the hole that the Pumas couldn’t dig themselves out of. Higgins says the team will need to “get sharp on some assignments that [they] missed tonight and get healthy” to prepare for the next games. The Pumas put all their effort on the field under the Friday Night lights and impressed the fans despite the score.
The Puma players and fans were quick to bounce back from the loss, going on to enjoy the largest Homecoming dance in school history on Saturday night.