Milpitas 2009 Photo Courtesy of J. Anderson

 posted October 25, 2009

by Jack Smale and Mark Raftrey of Viking

The Palo Alto High School varsity football team (5-1-1) overcame the Milpitas Trojans (6-1) 31-28 on Friday night at home for senior night.

(click here for game photos and additional coverage)

Paly kicker and wideout Joc Pederson ('10) split the uprights for the eventual game winning 27-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining in the game.

"Its a huge win, its a classic win," Paly head coach Earl Hansen said. "But we earned it."

The formerly number one ranked Trojans came into the game with an undefeated record.

"It was pretty intense," Milpitas running back Ben Pomele ('10) said. "Both teams wanted it, but Paly pulled it out in the end. It was our first loss; we'll learn from it."

The Vikings struck first with 5:14 left in the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback T.J. Braff ('11) to wideout Davante Adams ('11).

"They brought a lot of pressure, but we started to figure it out," Braff said.

Braff was 13-for-22 with 211 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Milpitas tied the game on the ensuing possession with a touchdown pass to wideout Antonio Douglas ('10) on third down and 12 from the Paly 13-yard line.

After the touchdown, Paly started from its own 20-yard line, but coughed up a fumble on the first play which Milpitas recovered deep in Viking territory. On the Trojans second play of the series, strong safety Spencer Barney ('10) forced a fumble, giving Paly the ball back on its own 45.

The Vikings drove to the Milpitas 36 where Braff connected with wideout Maurice Williams ('10) who leaped over his defender for a Paly touchdown, putting the Vikings ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Five minutes later, Braff again found Williams in the end zone for a 23-yard score.

Williams finished the night with six catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

With less than a minute left in the half, Trojan quarterback Junior London ('10) threw an underneath route to receiver Dela Harlley ('11), who broke a tackle on his way to a 71-yard touchdown, cutting the Viking's lead to 21-14 at half-time.

After starting a new drive from their own goal line, the Trojans drove the length of the field to the Paly one-yard line, setting up a diving touchdown rush by London. However, Milpitas missed the extra point, leaving the score at 21-20 for Paly.

Just as Milpitas seemed to have momentum, Paly defensive end Kevin Anderson ('11) intercepted a Trojan pass and ran it back for a touchdown.

"I read the quarterbacks eyes, and stuck my hands out," Anderson said. "I didn't even realize that I had the ball until I was in the end zone."

Soon after, the Vikings threatened to score again, but the Milpitas defense forced a turnover on downs, giving the Trojan offense the ball back on its own 33-yard line. London threw two consecutive passes for 14 and 28 yards on the drive, helping position the Trojans in the red zone. From two yards out, London once again crossed the goal line, closing the gap to two points.

To tie the game, Milpitas attempted a two point conversion. The play seemed contained by Paly defenders when Pomele pitched the ball to Douglas who ran for the score, tying the game at 28 apiece with 8:38 left in the game.

Paly regained possession of the ball, but were soon challenged by a third and 23 from midfield. On a game changing catch, Williams hauled in a 34-yard grab, giving the Vikings a shot at the lead. The Trojan defense sacked Braff for the fourth time, stalling Paly's progress, so the Vikings turned to Pederson to kick a 27-yard field goal that put them in front with 1:34 to play.

"It was just another kick," Pederson said. "Just like an extra point."

The game appeared decided when Milpitas faced a fourth and 26 from their own 47. An unexpected 39-yard catch from Jordan Lockett ('12) gave the Trojans a chance at scoring with just four seconds left at the Paly eight-yard line.

After lining up for a potential game-tying field goal, the Milpitas holder dropped the snap and his desperate pass attempt fell incomplete, as players stormed the field to cap off the game.

"We've played them so many times over the years and lost a couple flukes on weird things," Hansen said.

Assistant coach Steve Foug agreeed.

"We definitely needed that win after a disappointing game last week. It can't get better than [beating] number one in CCS," Foug said.

The Vikings will take on Los Gatos High School in their final home game of the season for Homecoming next week at 7:30.