The Paly football team ( 6-2, 4-2) defeated the Moutain View Spartans (5-3, 3-2), 46-14, in a crucial win that put the Vikings ahead in the race for the league title.
Running back Morris Gates-Mouton (’12) needed only one play before running 63 yards through the Spartan secondary and putting up the first points of the game. Moutain View responded with an eight play drive to the end zone, capped off with a five-yard touchdown run from running back Marcus Jones (’13).
On the first play of the ensuing Paly drive, receiver B.J. Boyd (’12) broke out from the 37-yard line and ran into the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown run and gave Paly a 13-7 lead. The Viking defense came out once again, this time planting the Spartan offense in a three-and-out, forcing the punt team onto the field.
Viking quarterback Keller Chryst (’14) connected with backup quarterback Andrew Frick (’14) and running back Dre Hill (’12) for nine and five yards respectively. Chryst then used run support from Mouton to advance the ball to the 9-yard line, before handing it off one more time for Mouton’s second touchdown of the night. In the first half alone, Mouton ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns on five carries.
” I think we did well in everything,” Mouton said. “We blocked, we tackled, and we swarmed to the ball.”
With a growing deficit the Spartans now trailed 20-7, but slowly advanced down field with carries from Jones. The drive however, stalled with a sack from Viking lineman Tory Prati (’12) and an incomplete pass on fourth down.
After a short run gain of three, Boyd carried the ball down the left sideline before ripping away from a tackle, evading three more, and breaking away from a last defender for a touchdown and a commanding 26-7 lead.
More incomplete passes forced Moutain View to punt and allowed the Viking offense back onto the field, but a quick fumble turned the ball over to the Spartans. Leading 26-7 with time winding down in the half, defense once again won the ball for the Viking.
Tight-end Austin Braff (’12) then became Chryst’s main target, grabbing 24 and 26 yard catches before finding the left side of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown from Chryst with 24.6 left on the clock to bring the score to 32-7.
” We were exceptionally good in pretty much all phases,” head coach Earl Hansen said. ” Offensively we were clicking, kick-off team was very good, the defense didn’t break.”
The second half played out much like the first, with the Spartans falling further behind and scoring only once. Mouton continued to contribute, punching in a third touchdown on the 68 yard run, as Boyd added another seven to the final tally with a pass from Chryst.
With tonight’s victory, the Vikings surpass the Spartans in league and will face a crucial game against first place Milpitas on Nov. 10. Next week, Paly will celebrate senior night against Los Altos (1-6, 0-4) , Nov.4.