Ending their season on a high note on Thursday, Nov. 7, the freshmen football team ended their season with a 16-0 win over the Vista Ridge Rangers. Showing out defensively the Warriors fought through the whole game earning their win despite their setbacks earlier in the week.

“[This season was] brutal because half of our team failed [classes] which was very challenging [in games],” William Chubick ‘28 said. “It was tough on the team [only having about 25 players],”.

After winning the coin toss, Vista Ridge kicked off giving the Warriors the ball to start the game. Beginning the game with a long fight with a first down run, Arjun Parthipan ‘28 set the tone. However soon the Warrior momentum was cut short by a fumble that gave VIsta the ball near the 50. After a strong three-and-out  from the Warrior defense, they regained possession at the Vista Ridge 40 yard line. Unfortunately, again, The Warrior offense fell short, forcing them to punt. After another failed drive led by bad snaps, the Rangers ended the quarter 0-0.

“[To prepare for games] we practice our form and technique [in the]weight room,” Parthipan said. “I like stretching [with the team] before games.”

Coming back onto the field strong with possession the Warriors quickly put points on the board with a run from Parthipan. Successfully punching in the two point conversion, Chubick made it a 8-0 game with 11 left in the half. Leading the attack, Jack Brandes ‘28 and Joseph Kasey ‘28 worked together making a number of strong tackles through the quarter, preventing any movement by the Ranger offense. As the second quarter ran down Vista Ridge attempted to make gains but were shut down re-asserting the Warriors domination going into halftime.

[It’s a team effort when making a touchdown as] the receivers block and the O-line to block, which was pretty helpful for my rushes,”  Parthipan said.  

Making significant headway for the first time in the game, Vista Ridge came out of their huddle and made it to the Warriors’ 12-yard line. Now in the red-zone, the Warrior defense forced a fumble at the six, again, denying the Rangers attempts at the lead. After a series of gains started by Nikita Shitikov ‘28, the Warrior offense held the ball for the rest of the quarter, choking out Vista’s defense. Soon, breaking multiple tackles, Akim Boychenko ‘28 gained 11 yards to end the third quarter with the Warrior offense in Ranger territory.

[This season was] really good, I’m going to miss my coaches, and my teammates,” Sam Nicol Barbosa ‘28 said. “In the last game we really wanted to finish strong and win, which is what we did and we are really happy about it,”.

Determined to keep their lead in the fourth quarter, the Warrior offense, led by Brown, weaved a 52-yard run for the Warriors’ second touchdown, soon running in their point after, the Warriors set the game 16-0. Low snaps from Vista that coupled with an impressive performance from Warrior defense line continued to hinder the Rangers’ offense. With only four seconds to go the Warriors intercepted the final pass in the endzone, ending the game 16-0.

The Warriors ended their season strong with a win and reflected on all that had happened in this eventful season. For the Warriors that decide to continue playing football at Westwood, the JV and Varsity teams have tons of talent joining the team next season.