Photos by Mark Duffel
BY JOEY MACIAS
A drama filled game between Golden Valley High School and West High School ends in a 21-20 comeback win for the Vikings on Friday night.
With less than 15 seconds to go Golden Valley (1-8, 0-4 South Yosemite League) botched a snap on a 21-yard field goal attempt to potentially put them in the lead. The Golden Valley holder was able to collect the football and tried running for the end zone but was stopped by West High (3-6,1-3 SYL) senior Journey Williams which sealed the first league win for West.
“It’s teamwork,” said Williams. “I couldn’t get there without the (defensive) line helping me get a hole and just taking it. Luckily we got there and I just made the tackle and we took the win.”
West head coach Derrick Dunham gave his thoughts about the Vikings miraculous win against the Bulldogs and said, “Hats off to Golden Valley they played a hell of a game. We knew they were going to come out with their best stuff and they did.
“I’m just proud of our boys... We’ve been in this situation before. We’ve been in some tough games with some tough teams so it was just very fortunate tonight that we were able to stand up there at the goal line and take care of business.”
The game-winning score by the Vikings came in the third quarter on a read-option play by sophomore Daylon Leach which he took into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown run. This put the Vikings up 21-20 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.
“We just had to come out and fight hard,” said Leach. “I knew it was going to be a dog fight. I just tried to do everything I could for my team and for the seniors I knew they wanted (the win) bad to go to the playoffs.”
Leach finished the game with 43 yards on 14 carries in the game. He also had 65 yards passing on five completions.
This win puts West in the SYL win column in hopes of extending its season into the playoffs.
Golden Valley came out firing in the game going up 13-0 on two trick play touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the game.
The Bulldogs were able to score on an initial handoff to junior Iziah Coronado who handed the ball off again to sophomore Ralph Gonzales who threw the ball to junior Marquel Bruley for a 19-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the game.
Another big performer that helped West win was senior Leauauna Laulu Jr. He totaled 80 yards rushing and had one touchdown in the game.
West High will finish the regular season in a scheduled game against Tehachapi High School on Friday Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Golden Valley will wrap up its season in a scheduled game against Bakersfield Christian High School on Friday Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
