Samo 3-0!

 On the first day of September, The Vikings had to take their first trip of the season going into West Torrance. The South Bay has been a bad place to play in for the Vikings over the past couple of years, going 1-8 in the region since 2020. The Vikings also hadn’t beaten the Warriors since 2019, so history was definitely not on the side of the boys from the westside. 

To start the game Samo and West exchanged failed redzone drives. The Vikings were unsuccessful on four straight downs in their opening drive, while West quarterback Eli Brandt (Class of 2025 QB) was intercepted by Charles Cravings III (Class of 2025 SS/WR). These lengthy drives ended the first quarter deadlocked at zero going into the second.

In the Vikings ensuing drive Caden McCallum (Class of 2024 RB/LB) and his big offensive line found success in driving down the field. This led to another redzone opportunity where Santa Monica capitalized, as Jayden Montanez (Class of 2024 TE/DE/ATH) found a hole in the defense to score his first varsity touchdown! The 270 pound big man was all smiles after his leap into the endzone resembling

what I imagine an abnormally large rabbit would do. In West’s next possession they as well made it to the redzone, fueled by Reef Sharman (Class of 2025 WR/FS) and Eli Brandt (QB Class of 2025)


the Warriors ended the half with a field goal making the score 7-3 going into the break.

After the break West started with the ball and marched down the field to the five yard line. In their third straight drive into the redzone, West again couldn’t find the endzone as they literally and figuratively fumbled the opportunity away. Charles Cravings (Class of 2025 SS/WR) knocked the ball out and the Vikings recovered. Samo then had a 99 yard drive that was punctuated by a Wyatt Brown (Class of 2026 QB) touchdown pass to his favorite target Griffin Seals (Class of 2024 WR). Seals caught the ball at the thirty-five yard line spun inside and finished through the line to find paydirt to give the Vikings a

eleven point lead midway through the third.

On the next West drive, Brandt was intercepted by David Solis-Valdovinos (Class of 2024 WR/CB) off a tipped pass from Carlos Gonzalez-Melchor (Class of 2024 LB). The Vikings however fumbled on the next play, which in turn rejuvenated the Warriors. With the short field, Brandt found Sharman for a huge gain and again for a score, making the score 14-9 after the failed extra point attempt. Everything seemingly was going West’s way after that as Reef Sharman (Class of 2025 WR/FS) intercepted Brown on the final play of the third.

In the fourth, the Viking defense stepped up forcing the Warriors into a punt. Following the short punt the Vikings took advantage, Caden McCallum (Class of 2024 RB/LB) ran the ball down the field and finished the scoring drive with a touchdown, putting the Vikings up 21-9. On the proceeding kickoff West failed to pick up the ball, leading the Vikings to retain possession as they jumped on it. Samo then all but ended the Warriors resurgent hopes as Charles Cravings (Class of 2025 SS/WR) elevated over the West Torrance defender in the endzone. The eloquent throw from Wyatt Brown (Class of 2026 QB) at midfield put the Vikings in the driver's seat up 19. Cravings then proceeded to pick off Brandt twice more to finish the game, giving Samo the victory, 28-9.

West continual redzone failures lost them this game as scoring a measly 9 points in four redzone drives is an unacceptable number to win football games. Through three quarters this game was close, but the Vikings ability to turn it on in the fourth quarter was the difference in the affair. The player who made the biggest plays all night for the Vikings had to be Charles Cravings (Class of 2025 SS/WR), with nine tackles, a forced fumble, and three huge interceptions, Cravings mitigated the West offense completely. The Vikings as a whole forced six turnovers on the night! To round out the Vikings non-league play they travel to Sylmar and Hueneme, and it will be of the utmost importance for the Vikings to not only win those games, but to use them in preparation for the Bay League.

Written by the SamoSportsBlog President and Editor and Chief, Theo Dowling.

All photo credits to David Hunzicker: https://deh.crevado.com/football-west-9-1-2023/16434258

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