11/09/07 ~ B - Football
Warriors Sweep Monarchs Homecoming Weekend

SAN JOSE- It was a happy Homecoming for scores of Valley Christian
alumni, parents, friends and supporters as the Warriors swept the
Archbishop Mitty Monarchs at all three levels. The freshmen game was a tale of two halves as the first half was a tight defensive struggle and the second half was a wide open shoot-out. The Warriors ultimately prevailed on the road 28-27 when quarterback Zach Vaiana tossed a long touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. The junior varsity game was also a see saw affair that Valley Christian ultimately came from behind to win 20-14 before a packed house. In the varsity game, the Warriors came from behind to post a thrilling 28-14 win and clinch a berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs.

The Warriors struggled on offense for much of the night in the varsity
game and struggled to one of their lowest offensive outputs of the year. However, the Warriors defense was more than up to the task forcing six turnovers and blocking a punt. The Warriors would score 21 of their 28 points on defense and senior Daniel Carrillo would put on a performance that was among the most impressive in Valley Christian's storied football tradition.

Daniel Johnson made the big play on the Warriors first defensive series as he snared a pass out of midair on a fullback swing and scampered 12 yards into the end zone and stake the Warriors to a 7-0 lead just minutes into the contest. Archbishop Mitty was able to turn a short pass into a 40 yard gain on their next series before fumbling away the ball to junior Josh Venegas. After the teams traded punts, Mitty threatened to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. However, this time Michael Olivas made a big play as he broke through the line of scrimmage to trip up the Monarchs 245 pound fullback Kenny Jackson on a fourth and one play on the two yard line.

After the Warriors picked up a couple of first downs, they turned the
ball over again near midfield. The Monarch threatened to score again, but junior Cameron Marshall was the big play guy this time intercepting a pass and lugging it out to the Monarch 29 yard line. Another three and out for the Warriors gave the Monarchs good field position which they converted when Thomas Reynolds scooted into the end zone to knot the score at seven with less than a minute remaining until intermission. The Warriors fumbled again though on their first play from scrimmage and the Monarchs converted a Hail Mary toss for their second score in less than a minute and a 14-7 half-time lead. The Warriors were shocked, frustrated and angered by the turn of events late in the half. The coaching staff challenged the players to "be great" in the second half. It was a challenge that senior Daniel Carrillo took seriously as he was about to put on a second half performance for the ages.

Carrillo got things started on the first offensive possession of the
second half hauling in two passes for 66 yards including a beautiful 52 yard catch and run to tie the score again with 8:29 left to play in the third. Thomas Reynolds returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield before enduring a serious and painful leg injury that would delay the game for nearly an hour as the medical crews attended to him and the players and spectators offered prayers for a speedy recovery. Neither team did much on offense for the remainder of the third period. However, with less than nine minutes remaining in the game, Carrillo was at it again as he blocked a punt and then scooped up the loose ball and scampered 15 yards into the end zone to give the Warriors a 21-14 advantage.

The teams traded punts and the Warriors again held Archbishop Mitty to set the Warriors up for one final drive to clinch the Homecoming
victory. The offensive line began to assert control of the line of
scrimmage picking up two quick first downs. However, yet another fumble gave the ball back to the Monarchs on their own 27 yard line with a little over a minute to play. Another long toss from the Monarch
quarterback to junior wide out Mitch Haniger gave the Monarchs the ball deep in Valley Christian territory. Carrillo made a big tackle on first down in bounds to keep the clock running and force the Monarchs to spike the ball to stop the clock. On third down, Carrillo broke up a pass to set the stage for the biggest play of the season for the Warriors.

On fourth down, Carrillo stepped in front of a hitch route for an
interception that he returned 76 yards for his third touchdown of the
evening to the delight of the packed house. On the Monarchs last series, Carrillo intercepted the Warriors fifth pass of the evening to close out an amazing performance that clinched a CCS berth for Valley Christian. The team is in action again this friday before going on to compete in the section play-offs on November 16th or 17th. The complete CCS playoff brackets will be available after the seeding meeting on sunday November 11th.