By Darrel Wheeler
Hoover’s football Cardinals faced their biggest challenge of the young season last Friday night against Division One powerhouse La Costa Canyon. After recording artist Christina Sayers sung the national anthem, it was time for the undefeated Cardinals to play some football.
La Costa Canyon drew first blood using their high-powered running attack in the first quarter. Running back Cade Jackson found the end zone from the three-yard line.
However, that would be the last score of the first half for the heavily favored Mavericks. Hoover’s smaller but tougher defense stood their ground against their much bigger opponent.
“They were bigger than us but we were faster than them,” Hoover’s Jaquille Bradford said.
La Costa’s team did not help their own cause with their unusual amount of drive-killing penalties and turnovers. The Cardinal’s finally got on the score board with a safety caused by Lewis Butler with six minutes remaining in the first half of this close contest of wills
A few minutes later, Hoover’s offense finally found the end zone thanks to the pass and catch connection of Zyair Velazquez to Dominique Whitfield resulting in a 30 yard touchdown. The upset-minded Cardinals went into half time with a 9-7 lead.
Both teams failed to find their opponent’s end zone. Not until the fourth quarter of action did La Costa finally put away Hoover’s tough Cardinals.
The Maverick’s finally overcame their penalties and turnovers and hit pay dirt twice when Quarterback Duke Macklin scored from 5 and 12 yards.
“Hoover really had a chance to win that game. They were hanging in there until the fourth quarter. They were eventually overwhelmed by La Costa’s size and numbers,” Hoover supporter Raymond Spriggs said. They lost to La Costa 21-9, putting an end to Hoover’s quest for an undefeated season.
“They beat us but that’s OK, I still think we are as good as they are, and we have a real good team. If a few things had of went our way we could have got them. We will have to go back to work and fix some things but we will be OK,” Hoover’s Jaquille Bradford said.
