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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP4-WNDJ_Mk
VISTA – In a showdown between top-10 teams on Friday night, it wasn’t always pretty for No. 3 Vista and No. 7 Mira Mesa. The Panthers overcame a slow start and hung on late to beat the Marauders 21-14.
“Everybody is going to have the first-game jitters, of course,” said Vista quarterback Christian Gallardi. “We pulled through as a team and came out on top and we did a really good job tonight.”
With the game tied in the fourth quarter, Gallardi connected with receiver Kristopher Estrada for a 37-yard touchdown to put Vista (1-0) ahead. On the play, Gallardi scrambled around and left his feet before firing a dart to Estrada, who ran untouched into the endzone.
“It was kind of unexpected. I just realized, saw the open man and then hit him,” Gallardi said.
Down 21-7 late in the fourth, Mira Mesa (0-1) used a 67-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Trey Lomax to receiver Nathan Tajalle to make it a one-score game. With 32 seconds left, the Marauders got the ball back in their own territory but were unable move the ball as time ran out.
“We had some adversity this week and got through it,” said Mira Mesa head coach Gary Blevins.
The Marauders took the field without their starting quarterback, who suffered a shoulder sprain in the team’s scrimmage against Valley Center. The injuries forced Lomax into his first varsity start against Vista’s blackshirt defense.
“We had to play a 10th grade quarterback tonight and he did pretty good,” Blevins said. “Our offense is going to mature a little bit this week. That’s the number one thing we want to get, a little bit more continuity going there.”
Both defenses set the tone in a scoreless first quarter where both teams only had one first down. On the first play from scrimmage, Gallardi was pressured and threw a desperation pass that Mira Mesa defensive back Anthony Payne intercepted.
“Coach told me to brush it off, it happens,” Gallardi said. “It was the first play of the game and I just had to come back my team needed me.”
While the Panthers escaped unscathed from the interception, they were not so lucky with their next turnover. After recovering a botched option pitch at the Vista 15-yard line, Mira Mesa quickly converted with a Lomax 20-yard keeper for the game’s first score.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers,” said Vista head coach Dan Williams. “First-game jitters – we got them out, we’re done and we’re ready to go.”
Vista tied the game in the with 3:13 left in the second quarter when Gallardi found Jeremiah Kose in the corner of the endzone from six yards out for a score. Both teams went in tied at the break.
“It’s a great battle to come out and play a ranked team like that. It gives you a benchmark of where your team is going to be,” Williams said.
Vista made it a point to run the ball more in the second half and they found success on the ground inside. A majority of their fourth quarter scoring drive to take the 21-7 lead was spent between the tackles.
“We felt we were conditioned and we just kind of pound that ball at them,” Williams said. “That’s what we did. We had some pretty darn good drives where we controlled the game for a while there.”
Vista has a week off before hosting University City (0-1) on Sept. 17. After losing in the Division I championship game last year, the Panthers have plans for a return trip.
“That’s one of our mottos on our shirt: ‘Bring it Back,’” Gallardi said. “We definitely have to get back there and get what we missed out on last time.”
Mira Mesa will look to get their first win next Friday at Rancho Buena Vista (0-1). On Sept. 17 the Marauders travel north once again to face Oceanside (0-1).
“I’m happy with the boys,” Blevins said. “It’s a good team and we’ll get to where we need to get to.”
Vista quarterback Christian Gallardi scrambles out of the pocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP4-WNDJ_Mk
VISTA – In a showdown between top-10 teams on Friday night, it wasn’t always pretty for No. 3 Vista and No. 7 Mira Mesa. The Panthers overcame a slow start and hung on late to beat the Marauders 21-14.
“Everybody is going to have the first-game jitters, of course,” said Vista quarterback Christian Gallardi. “We pulled through as a team and came out on top and we did a really good job tonight.”
With the game tied in the fourth quarter, Gallardi connected with receiver Kristopher Estrada for a 37-yard touchdown to put Vista (1-0) ahead. On the play, Gallardi scrambled around and left his feet before firing a dart to Estrada, who ran untouched into the endzone.
“It was kind of unexpected. I just realized, saw the open man and then hit him,” Gallardi said.
Down 21-7 late in the fourth, Mira Mesa (0-1) used a 67-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Trey Lomax to receiver Nathan Tajalle to make it a one-score game. With 32 seconds left, the Marauders got the ball back in their own territory but were unable move the ball as time ran out.
“We had some adversity this week and got through it,” said Mira Mesa head coach Gary Blevins.
The Marauders took the field without their starting quarterback, who suffered a shoulder sprain in the team’s scrimmage against Valley Center. The injuries forced Lomax into his first varsity start against Vista’s blackshirt defense.
“We had to play a 10th grade quarterback tonight and he did pretty good,” Blevins said. “Our offense is going to mature a little bit this week. That’s the number one thing we want to get, a little bit more continuity going there.”
Both defenses set the tone in a scoreless first quarter where both teams only had one first down. On the first play from scrimmage, Gallardi was pressured and threw a desperation pass that Mira Mesa defensive back Anthony Payne intercepted.
“Coach told me to brush it off, it happens,” Gallardi said. “It was the first play of the game and I just had to come back my team needed me.”
While the Panthers escaped unscathed from the interception, they were not so lucky with their next turnover. After recovering a botched option pitch at the Vista 15-yard line, Mira Mesa quickly converted with a Lomax 20-yard keeper for the game’s first score.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers,” said Vista head coach Dan Williams. “First-game jitters – we got them out, we’re done and we’re ready to go.”
Vista tied the game in the with 3:13 left in the second quarter when Gallardi found Jeremiah Kose in the corner of the endzone from six yards out for a score. Both teams went in tied at the break.
“It’s a great battle to come out and play a ranked team like that. It gives you a benchmark of where your team is going to be,” Williams said.
Vista made it a point to run the ball more in the second half and they found success on the ground inside. A majority of their fourth quarter scoring drive to take the 21-7 lead was spent between the tackles.
“We felt we were conditioned and we just kind of pound that ball at them,” Williams said. “That’s what we did. We had some pretty darn good drives where we controlled the game for a while there.”
Vista has a week off before hosting University City (0-1) on Sept. 17. After losing in the Division I championship game last year, the Panthers have plans for a return trip.
“That’s one of our mottos on our shirt: ‘Bring it Back,’” Gallardi said. “We definitely have to get back there and get what we missed out on last time.”
Mira Mesa will look to get their first win next Friday at Rancho Buena Vista (0-1). On Sept. 17 the Marauders travel north once again to face Oceanside (0-1).
“I’m happy with the boys,” Blevins said. “It’s a good team and we’ll get to where we need to get to.”
Vista quarterback Christian Gallardi scrambles out of the pocket