The (2-1) Vikings’ dominance over the Titans (0-3) continued Friday night, bringing the rivalry’s all-time record to 34-12 in Palo Alto’s favor. After a tremendous performance last year, senior runningback B.J. Boyd ran up and down the field on an overmatched Titans defense.
Gunn quarterback Andre Guzman, a junior transfer from Palo Alto High School, put the Titans on the board twice with jump balls to senior receivers Skyler Larson and Kareem Farwal, but it was not enough.
“We need to continue to improve,” Gunn Head Coach Dan Navarro said. “Be more physical and aggressive.”
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Boyd opened up the game with a 35-yard kickoff return before senior runningback Morris Gates-Mouton capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Mouton ran the ball seven times for 25 yards, but shined on the goal-line by punching it in for three scores.
The Titans followed the Palo Alto score with a solid drive of their own, making it to the Viking 18-yard line before a faulty snap ruined their field goal attempt. On the next play, Palo Alto quarterback Keller Chryst dropped back and threw deep down the middle of the field to a streaking Boyd for a 61-yard touchdown. Chryst finished his night with 148 yards on 4-for-8 passing with two touchdowns, the second score coming on another long pass to Boyd.
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Boyd, normally a runningback, never took a handoff, but reeled in three catches for 141 yards and two scores.
“[Playing receiver] is pretty fun because I get into the open field more,” Boyd said.
After a fumble recovery at the Gunn 10-yard line by senior cornerback Justin Grey on the ensuing kickoff, Palo Alto would tack on another score by means of a 3-yard Gates-Mouton run, putting the Vikings on top 13-0 after a missed extra-point.
Only 25 seconds into the second quarter, Grey returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown. With 5:21 remaining, Gates-Mouton pounded in his third touchdown of the half. Despite a 25-0 deficit, Gunn did not lie down.
The Titans put together a strong drive, powering downfield with the legs of junior runningback Dallas Trevillion and senior runningback J.J. Strnad, who combined for 95 yards of total offense before a knee injury sidelined Trevillion in the second half.
From the Palo Alto 21-yard line, Guzman lobbed the ball up to Larson in the right corner of the end zone, who leapt in the air and snagged it over the outstretched arms of Grey.
“We definitely have a really nice passing game and running game,” Guzman said. “[Larson] has amazing hands out there, and J.J. and Dallas will run hard in the backfield.”
The second half saw the Vikings put their depth chart on display as defenses shined, each team managing only one more score in the fourth quarter. Gunn junior lineman Mike Jorgensen scooped up a Hill fumble late in the third quarter and returned it to the Vikings’ 36-yard line. A few plays later, Palo Alto forced one of three Guzman interceptions on the night, two of them by junior Jayshawn Gates-Mouton.
Guzman and Farwal hooked up with three minutes left in the fourth quarter for a 19-yard touchdown thanks to an impressive bobble-and-catch by the senior. Guzman went 9-for-19 for 196 yards, 2 scores, and 3 interceptions.
“[Guzman] leads them,” Palo Alto Head Coach Earl Hansen said. “He had some good balls, I noticed that.”
Gunn will take on Harker at home while Palo Alto hosts Homestead next Friday at 7:30p.m. Five Vikings went down with injuries in last year’s dogfight with the Mustangs.
“We’ve got to get a good week of practice in, take it one day at a time, and get ready for Homestead,” Chryst said.
