REDWOOD CITY — Simply after he had watched his teammate kick the game-winning further level in double additional time, Sequoia operating again Luke Ulrich didn’t head to rejoice first.
Ulrich and so a lot of his Sequoia teammates went to test on gamers for his or her opponent Overfelt, who the Ravens had simply crushed 51-50 in a wild CCS Division IV first-round recreation.
“I simply felt for the opposite guys, the seniors which can be going out, leaving after this final recreation for them,” Ulrich mentioned, his eyes watering only a smidge. “I need these guys to go to the subsequent degree, I need them to proceed to play soccer.”
Sequoia elects to kick, and junior Brody McKenna’s further level sneaks in.
FINAL: #1 Sequoia 51, #8 Overfelt 50.
The respect for one another is obvious within the postgame.
Recap to return for @mercnews@DarrenSabedra@joseph_dycus@VytasMazeika@Jesus_Cano88@leftwichpic.twitter.com/7XOZPZGi2l— Alex Simon (@AlexSimonSports) November 12, 2022
However within the playoffs, there’s just one staff who might advance, even when the sport is an all-time traditional. The highest-seeded Ravens and No. 8 seed Royals did simply that in an insane recreation with wild momentum swings, crunching tackles and all of the depth you’d anticipate of two groups making a uncommon playoff look.
However out of that depth got here a deep respect and appreciation for one another throughout the sphere, evident all all through the night time in how the groups that hadn’t confronted one another within the Maxpreps period interacted. As an alternative of trash speak, there have been hugs and phrases of encouragement on the additional time coin toss.
It was, with out a shadow of a doubt, highschool soccer at its purest, at its most interesting.
Sequoia head coach Rob Polous informed his staff, “You already know it simply might have been you, and also you confirmed the respect you'd have wished in the event you had come up one level brief in that loopy scenario, and I’m so happy with you for doing that.”
“That’s one hell of a program,” Overfelt head coach Carlo Maningo mentioned of Sequoia. “They’ve received some nice guys there.”
The Ravens had an opportunity to finish the back-and-forth battle in regulation after with three lead modifications and two factors of being tied. The senior combo of quarterback John Larios and large receiver Jack Elgaaen linked on 4 straight intermediate passing performs with lower than a minute left to drive Sequoia from midfield into subject aim vary.
Sequoia junior Brody McKenna’s 30-yd subject aim try because the clock expires is BLOCKED.
To additional time we go on this @cifccs Division IV first spherical recreation.
#8 Overfelt 36, #1 Sequoia 36.@DarrenSabedra@joseph_dycus@Jesus_Cano88@leftwich@GReeves23@JensenPhil@VytasMazeikapic.twitter.com/5F5lB23iFz— Alex Simon (@AlexSimonSports) November 12, 2022
However junior kicker Brody McKenna’s 30-yard try with three seconds left was blocked, thanks partly resulting from a excessive snap, sending the sport to additional time, with highschool guidelines giving every staff an opportunity to attain from first-and-goal on the 10-yard line.
With Sequoia getting the ball to start out the primary additional time, Larios hit Elgaaen to get the Ravens to the 1-yard line earlier than Ulrich punched it in. The Ravens selected to go for the 2-point strive, and after a penalty pushed them to again to the 8, Larios scrambled proper and raced in for a fast rating.
Overfelt didn’t take lengthy to reply again, although, as senior operating again Quinton Togia’i picked up the ten yards for a landing on two runs, then churned his approach in on the 2-point try and tie the sport at 44 and ship it to a second additional time.
Togia’i solely wanted one play to open the scoring within the second additional time, dashing it in once more from 5 yards out after a penalty on Sequoia. However on the 2-point strive, his fourth straight carry making an attempt to succeed in the endzone, the Ravens lastly stopped him brief and stored the rating 50-44.
Sequoia then rode its operating recreation, with Ulrich selecting up six yards on two performs and sophomore Jordan Crockett ending off the drive, plowing by a defender and reaching into the endzone for the game-tying rating.
Solely needing one level to win, Polous known as timeout and gathered his subject aim unit to overview what went mistaken on the try on the finish of regulation. He had little question in McKenna, who additionally didn’t have any in himself.
“I used to be prepared,” McKenna mentioned. “I do know I could make these kicks, I haven’t missed a PAT since Week 4. I knew I used to be proper, simply wanted to ensure my holder received it down. However props to these guys for at all times preventing — they nonetheless virtually received a hand on it.”
However the Royals didn’t, McKenna’s kick sailed simply by to offer Sequoia the 51st level and the win. And whereas the Ravens celebrated, in addition they appreciated the unreal recreation that each them and Overfelt placed on.
“I believe each groups have been like, ‘Let’s ball and let’s see the way it shakes out,’” Polous mentioned. “And holy crickeys, that was superior.”
Sequoia (10-1) shouldn't be a program wealthy with playoff success, as CCS data present that is solely the fourth time that the Ravens have ever made it to the part playoffs. They’ve additionally by no means gained a bit title, twice shedding in a championship recreation (1986 and 2010).
However now, this Ravens staff will get a shot at tying the college file for many wins in a season (2010’s 11-1-1 staff) at house subsequent Friday towards No. 4 seed Santa Teresa, who gained 31-10 over St. Francis of Watsonville. However even hitting the 10-win mark is a particular second for Sequoia.
“I’m simply so excited for the entire staff,” Ulrich mentioned. “All of us performed our asses off. We’ve labored our hardest, we’ve been working for the previous 11 weeks. It’s simply wonderful, this nice feeling.”
For Overfelt (9-2), which has seen a gentle rise since Maningo returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2014, the Santa Teresa-Valley Division champions earned their third playoff look since 2018 after going twenty years with out a playoff berth. Maningo was beaming about his staff postgame, even by the ache of the defeat.
“On the finish of the day, I couldn’t be extra proud,” Maningo mentioned. “If we got here out flat and we gave this ballgame as a result of our guys didn’t play their hearts out, then I might in all probability have been disenchanted. However there’s not one factor I used to be disenchanted about with our guys’ effort in the present day. And that’s what I requested for. I requested for 100% effort.”
Carrillo added, “I’m simply happy with my guys, man. I wouldn’t change this group of men for no person else. I’m proud and I imagine that everyone on this subject put 110% in, blood, sweat and tears.”
And actually, for the Royals seniors, their highschool careers come to an finish with a recreation that they’ll always remember — sure, even with the loss.
“Win or loss, this recreation was going to be endlessly memorable,” mentioned senior operating again Mathias Carrillo, who completed with 15 carries for 95 yards and a landing. “We’re at all times going to have, ‘Keep in mind that one playoff recreation that we had?’ It’s at all times going to be behind our head. On the finish of the day, win or loss, simply hold our head up and know that we put all of it on the market.”
Toiga’i concurred and added, “It makes it” — taking part in highschool soccer — “really feel price it.”
