Santa Teresa celebrated Senior Day on Saturday by defeating Independence 28-12 in a BVAL-Mount Hamilton game.
“After the first two losses of the season, we never could recover,” said Independence coach Norm Brown, “It all starts with discipline. I’m hoping in the end the seniors could learn from this and take it with them.”
With Independence (3-7, 0-7) having lost seven straight league games in a row, this is the end of the road for them. The season is finished for Santa Teresa (5-5, 3-4) as well as the Saints barely missed making the playoffs.
"I didn't expect this," Independence player Allen Anderson said. "I have to thank my teammates because they really fought for us. Although we didn’t get the win, it was still pretty fun with the last game of the season.”
Independence score first on a 3-yard Anderson run.
Santa Teresa responded early in the second quarter with two consecutive touchdowns -- one from Josh Rojas with a 4 yard run and the other from Austin Richelle with a 1 yard run. Santa Teresa led 14-6 at the half and eventually hung on for the victory.
Immediately following the game, Santa Teresa hopes were still up.
“It’s bittersweet. We don’t know if it’s our last game or not; hopefully it’s not,” said outside linebacker and tide end Christian Paolinetti.
Santa Teresa's Jamal Jackson scored from 5 yards out for the only score of the third quarter, giving the Saints a 21-6 lead.
“Independence is a tough football team. I know their record didn’t show it this year, but they beat us last year,” said Santa Teresa coach Nick Alfano, “We remembered that and we knew Norm was going to have his kids ready. We were expected to win, but that doesn’t mean anything once you step onto the football field. Our kids overcame some adversity with a slow start on our part.”
The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter. First it was Santa Teresa with Josh Rojas ripping off a 6-yard TD run. Then Independence's Khari Vanderbilt caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Jojo Valenzuela.
With two interceptions in the fourth quarter, cornerback Corey Garcia said, “I don’t have the same feelings as everyone else because I’m a sophomore. But it feels really good to help them out and give them a win.”
Santa Teresa's Josh Rojas symbolized the helpless feeling of the Saints as they awaited word this weekend on whether they'd make the playoffs -- a verdict that, unfortunately for the Saints -- did not go their way as they lost a coin flip to Archbishop Riordan for the final at-large playoff bid.
“This is pretty much all I have to look forward to for high school," he said. "After this I’m going to the Marines. I love this group of kids. I came out here every day for the people that I play with. I didn’t come out here for myself or for my own game. I love football and it’s all I got. It feels good scoring in my senior game though.”
Added Alfano: “This is one of the best teams I’ve coached in 17 years. The kids work hard and they’re good kids. None of us are perfect but we try to teach our kids not just about wins and losses. We want our boys to grow up and be young men. That’s more important to us."
