On Friday night, the football team lost big against the Wilcox Chargers, falling 41-3 at home. As for what caused the loss and what needs to change, senior linebacker Emmanuel Wang said, “I thought the defense did pretty well, but we still lost. We just need to get ready for next week. The only thing we can do for now is just improve, that’s all.”
Coming off of a big win against Palo Alto, the Bears looked to continue their recent success with their first league game against Wilcox. Early on, the Bears’ defense showed up, with junior defensive end Devin Hyde getting a tackle for loss on Wilcox’s first play from scrimmage before M-A stuffed two more runs to force a punt.
The Bears’ first drive tried to replicate their strong run game last week with a few solid rushes by senior running back Jordan Masuisui, but the drive stalled out a little over midfield and the Bears punted it back to Wilcox.
Senior linebacker Colin Kuriger explained, “We were mostly preparing for the dive and the midline that was coming from Wilcox. They are always a heavy run team.” Wilcox stayed true to the scouting report, running the ball in every situation. Even with some strong defensive plays in the Chargers’ backfield by Kuriger and Hyde, Wilcox drove down the field and put it into the endzone with 1:14 left in the first quarter to lead 7-0.
After another stalled-out M-A drive, the Bears made a defensive stop before an unfortunate fumble extended the Wilcox drive and gave them advantageous field position before a quarterback option punched it in to give them a two-score lead midway through the second quarter.
Even as Wilcox drove on the Bears, M-A’s defense continued to make plays, highlighted with Hyde’s impressive performance throughout. Hyde said, “I was going into each play, no matter how many yards they got or if they scored a touchdown, I was just thinking, ‘we can’t be thinking about each play, we gotta move on to the next one. We can’t be focused on whatever mistakes we made in the past.’”
Before halftime, Wilcox scored another backbreaking touchdown, putting them up 21-0 with 51 seconds to go.
In the second half, the Bears’ miscues continued, as the ball bounced away on the kickoff into a Charger’s hands. Wilcox immediately capitalized on the mistake to grab a 27-0 lead 36 seconds into the third quarter.
The Bears defense refused to put their heads down. “I just try to stay locked in and focus on every play,” Kuriger said. “I try to get my head right before the game and during the game to keep me engaged.”
M-A’s offense took the field once again after the touchdown, but more flaws in protection and offensive miscommunication led to another three and out, sending the ball back to Wilcox. The Chargers broke off a big run against a laboring defense, putting the nail in the coffin up 34 early in the third.
M-A’s offense fought on, driving down the field and stringing together some solid plays before a 34-yard field goal from senior kicker Aiden Mulcahy put the Bears on the board and avoided the shutout.
One more Wilcox touchdown and some runs to chew the clock put an end to the game, leaving the Bears frustrated after a brutal 41-3 loss.
Hyde said, “There were too many guys on our team who were too hyper-fixated on the score, or were just not giving enough energy, and then retaliated by not giving all their effort on the next play, like hitting a guy out of bounds or going for his head, so that can’t be happening on the football field.”
The Bears hope to clean up on these miscues as they face the Sacred Heart Prep Gators in their homecoming game this Friday at 7 pm.
