Homecoming Varsity Football Game BY Sarah Buchanan

The Oakmont Vikings football team won its Homecoming game, beating the Mesa Verde Long Horns 34-13 on Friday night. Mesa was first on the scoreboard with a touchdown in the early minutes of the game, and managed to keep their lead for much of the first quarter.

Junior (?) Justin Caliste ran the ball in for Oakmont's first touchdown, but a flag cost the Vikings the touchdown and added 15 yards to their drive.

It took the Vikings about eight minutes to tie the game at 7-7.

The momentum started with a tackle made by Senior Chris French on the OHS three yard line. Mesa was forced to punt the ball, and Caliste's return put the Vikings in scoring range.

Senior quarterback Alex Ford then hit Junior Kyle Jones with a pass that led the Vikings to a first down and goal. Ford then scored on a quarterback sneak.

It was less than a minute later, after the Mesa Verde center hiked the ball over the head of his quarterback that Oakmont recovered it and turned it into a scoring opportunity.

Senior Fred Mobley scored to put OHS ahead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Junior Michael Garrison scored a touchdown well into the second quarter off an interception. Garrison's interception won his KCRA's Play of the Week honors.

The point after attempt by Ford was blocked by Mesa Verde keeping the Viking lead at 20-7.

Senior Henry Okoroike made several huge tackles for his team, including one that led to another interception by Oakmont on the following play, but the Vikings were unable to score.

Head coach Tim Moore noted that "Okoroike is a fourth year Senior and is depended on to set the tempo [for the OHS defense]."

"Okoroike, Caliste, Garrison and French are all gelling together and working really well with each other," Moore stated. Senior captain Andrew Tucker ended the first half with a sack on Mesa's quarterback for a nine yard loss, capping a strong defensive effort by the Vikings.

But there was a clipping penalty against Oakmont on the next play creating a first down for Mesa and only a play later, a 30-yard touchdown pass brought Mesa back to 20-13 after a failed two-point conversion.

OHS picked up the tempo in the middle of the third quarter with a 60-yard punt return by Caliste. The drive ended with a hand-off from Ford to Senior Alex Cook for a touchdown.

Mesa Verde's frustration boiled over several times, once when a player threw the ball at the back of an OHS football player after he was tackled. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost the Long Horns 15 yards, eventually giving the ball to Oakmont at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

After a 20-yard catch made by Garrison, Junior Niko Spino ran the ball in for Oakmont's final touchdown.

With less than seven minutes left in the game, and trailing by 21 points, Mesa was looking for a big play to help keep their spirits up. Instead, the punt returner fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Vikings.

Penalties seemed to be Oakmont's only weakness.

"We need to be more disciplined... it could've bit us as far as the scoreboard goes, but it didn't," said Moore. "We just need to play smarter."

Injured Seniors Hollis Duke and Juan Martinez said that their proud of their teammates and although "it sucks being on the sidelines, at the same time it's good that Oakmont is doing well" and all they can do for now is cheer their team to victory.

During halftime, the Homecoming court made its way around the field. Also, each class created a float based on 80's movies, including the Class of 1989, which was celebrating its 20-year reunion.

The class of '89 entered a float based on Weird Science, and the Freshmen based their float on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The Sophomores based their float on Friday the 13th, and the Juniors went with the Indiana Jones theme. The Senior class won the float design contest with its Ghostbuster theme.

In addition, Senior Pauline Parker was named Homecoming Queen and Chris French was named king.