Midseason Recap for Our East High Football Team
By Misi Mapa, September 24th 2024
Our Football team is currently 3-2 into the season and this a recap of how each game has gone so far.
Week 1
The East Leopards kicked off their season with an impressive 42-19 victory over Layton Christian Academy (LCA) on August 16th. The game started strong, with Tija Tate scoring a 14-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Dameon Crosby just four minutes in, followed by a 2-yard fumble recovery touchdown by linebacker John Amone, giving East a 14-0 lead. LCA fought back, closing the first half at 28-19 with scores from their running back and star wide receiver. However, the Leopards dominated the second half, allowing zero points and adding two more touchdowns from Tate and Nasio Otukolo to secure the win.
Week 2
On Friday night, our Leopards faced a tough opponent in Anaheim, California, losing 45-0 in a nonregional football game against Servite. The Leopards struggled from the start, falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter. Servite, ranked among the top 50 teams nationally, dominated the second quarter, scoring 26 points to lead 38-0 by halftime. East couldn't find their rhythm, and the home team added another touchdown in the third quarter to seal the victory. This game highlighted the challenges East will face as they prepare for their next match against Mountain Crest, hoping to bounce back from this disappointing loss.
Week 3
Our East Leopards showcased their resilience with a thrilling 42-23 comeback victory over Mountain Crest in a nonregional matchup. After trailing 10-7 at halftime, our team surged in the second half, led by standout Nasio Otukolo, who scored three touchdowns, including an impressive 70-yard run early in the third quarter. Despite Mountain Crest's Kai Passey contributing three touchdowns, our Leopards took control after halftime, igniting a 21-point third quarter. Quarterback Dameon Crosby added to the excitement with a 21-yard rushing touchdown and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Otukolo, sealing the win and improving our record to 2-1. What a game for our Leopards!
Week 4
To start September, the Leopards' impressive 55-34 victory over Alta! Nasio Otukolo was unstoppable, rushing for an incredible 202 yards and four touchdowns. After a slow start, our team roared back in the second quarter, with Tija Tate's electrifying 62-yard interception return and 28-yard touchdown catch turning the tide. Quarterback Dameon Crosby was on fire, throwing for 191 yards and three scores. Alta's Tucker Brown put up a fight with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns, but they couldn't contain our explosive offense. Jack McAllister's 51-yard field goal for Alta was impressive, but our 20-point fourth quarter sealed the deal. What a thrilling win for East!
Week 5
Our Leopards fell to Valor Christian 30-14 in a tough nonregional matchup. After a promising start with a scoreless first quarter, Valor Christian took control in the second, building a 16-7 halftime lead. Our team showed heart in the third quarter when Nasio Otukolo's 11-yard touchdown run brought us within two points. However, Valor Christian's two fourth-quarter touchdowns proved too much to overcome. Despite a valiant effort, our defense struggled to contain their offense in the closing minutes. This loss drops our record to 3-2, but we're looking forward to bouncing back next week against Olympus.
