Editor’s note: this story is being continuously updated as the Falcon receives more information. Last updated 4:51 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26.
As students, parents and teachers alike watched from packed stands in awe, the Falcons beat the Monta Vista Matadors 31-14 on Friday, Sept. 24, breaking their preseason streak of four losses and marking the crown jewel of a week of Homecoming festivities.
The team had much to prove going into the game, which served as both the Homecoming game as well as the team’s first official game of the season. With their win against the Matadors, the 1-0 Falcons are now second in the El Camino league.
“We knew we were going to be in front of a large crowd playing an opponent that was very beatable, so we just wanted to show SHS what we were capable of,” senior team captain and wide receiver Parsa Hashemi said. “We’re straight up tired of all the hate we’ve received [for our past performances] and wanted to prove all our doubters wrong.”
The Falcons started off strong, taking a commanding 10-0 lead during the first quarter behind a touchdown and field goal from Hashemi. By halftime, the team had extended their lead to 24-6 following two touchdowns on the backs of Hashemi and junior running back Paolo Navaro.
Though the Falcons were stuffed 24-14 in the third quarter, one more touchdown from Hashemi in the fourth was enough to secure the team’s first win of the season. In total, Hashemi scored three full touchdowns, four extra points and a field goal — totaling 25 of the team’s 31 points.
“This was an extremely special moment for me as I’ve been waiting for this moment since freshman year: to play in front of my school on homecoming night as a senior,” Hashemi said. “This was such a meaningful win for the seniors. We worked so hard and to see it all come together was really rewarding.”
Hashemi said that the team hopes to carry their momentum into their next games against Gunn High School on Oct. 1 and Los Altos on Oct. 14.
“We have to keep the mentality that we’re the underdogs and that we’ll have to work significantly harder than everyone else to win,” Hashemi said. “Our end goal is to win the league and best every team that stands in our way, whether or not the odds are in our favor.”