By Maddie Baker
The Falcons defeated the Cougars 38-35 at the annual homecoming game hosted at Coronado on Thursday, Oct. 29 .
On the fourth play of the first quarter Jordan Patterson, senior, ran the ball up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt by Gavin Wale, freshman, was good. On the ensuing kickoff from the 20-yard line, the Cougars recovered the ball at the 15-yard line. After two runs made by Patterson brought the team three yards from their second touchdown, quarterback Landen Rowland, junior, executed a quarterback sneak resulting in a touchdown that solidified Coronado’s lead 14-0 with nine minutes left in the first quarter.
Foothill’s Kealii Maruyama, junior, received the ball at the 33-yard line and ran for a touchdown. The extra point was good, making the score 14-7. With two minutes left in the first quarter, the Falcons scored a 20 yard field goal to make the score 14-10.
The second quarter was a stalemate between both defenses until Foothill was able to gain the upper hand with a touchdown to put them in the lead 17-14 at the end of the half.
Coronado kicked off the third quarter, attempting to keep the ball in their possession using an onside kick, but Foothill recovered the ball. Coronado defeated every attempt at a touchdown, and D.J. Davis, senior, broke a tackle after the Falcon’s punt and ran down the side for a 70- yard touchdown. The kick was good, and Coronado was able to retake the lead 21-17. With 8 minutes left in the third quarter, Foothill senior Justice Jackson ran the ball 30 yards to earn the Falcons another touchdown. The extra point was good placing Foothill in the lead 24-21.
During the first play of the fourth quarter, Jackson ran up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown to put Foothill further in the lead 31-21.
The Cougar’s first possession in the fourth quarter resulted in a four-yard touchdown by Patterson. The extra point was good mitigating Foothill’s lead to 31-28. Foothill’s next possession was a pass over the middle to the three-yard line. Jackson then ran the ball for a touchdown, making the score 38-28 with six minutes left in the game.
Coronado’s next possession started on their own 20-yard line. Rowland kept possession of the ball for another successful quarterback sneak that resulted in a touchdown for the Cougars. The kick was good making the score 38-35 with Foothill slightly in the lead.
On the Cougar’s final possession, with a third down and 23 yards to go to earn a first down, Rowland was sacked and fumbled the ball. The Falcons recovered the fumble and ran out the clock to end the game.
“It hurts losing our last home game, but we can’t stay hanging our heads over it. We need to work hard as a team and hopefully come out with a win next week against Basic. A win next week would give us a good momentum that is important to carry us into the playoffs,” Wale said.
