Senior Boccabella Led Monarchs To Edge Out Spartans

This game went back and forth, back and forth about eight times. And it was a matter of which team will make more mistakes than the other. But this game did not have that many mistakes as far as turnovers. Penalties? Yes, but for the most part, this game was a “dog fight” to the end.

Defense dominated the first quarter and it took a perfectly executed play for Mitty to score with 35 seconds left in the opening period. QB Wills Towers launched a perfect spiral to his streaking receiver Dominic Boccabella. That touchdown sparked the fire on both sidelines and the game turned into an offensive showdown.

Mtn. View had an answer for everything Mitty did on offense. Their star player was Leo Navarro, who carried the Spartans offensively and on special teams as well with some nice returns. Navarro made plays that kept his team in the game, including three fourth-down plays where he got the first to keep the drive alive. He also scored twice for the Spartans.

Mitty, the home team, was determined to get it done and did whatever it took to win. Boccabella and DT Jadyn Conover who combined for 19 total tackles, gobbled up the Spartan runners left and right. Towers threw for 235 yards and had three touchdown passes. Playmaker Danny Scudero came up huge with three total touchdowns including the last one that tied the game at 34-34. But the ultimate game-changer of the game was Boccabella who got a piece of the kicked PAT after Mtn. View scored a late TD that put them up 34-28. That kick sailed left leaving Mitty a golden opportunity to win the game if they were to score, which they did. There’s no doubt, Boccabella will be the front runner for the GSF Weekly Special Teams Player of the Week Award. His play on the ensuing kick-off might have sealed his free IKE’s Love and Sandwiches award when he got to the kick returner first and brought him down at the nine. Mtn. View couldn’t do much from then on. Monarchs’ LB Cooper Graham came up with a tackle for a loss on 4th and short to end the Spartans’ comeback efforts.

It’s been 680 days since Mitty won a game, 680 days since they sang their alma mater song, and head coach Danny Sullivan made sure to remind his squad to run up in front of the student section to sing for the first time in 680 days.

“I’m really proud of the guys. That win feels good for sure.” Towers commented after the game. “We kept fighting… We just finished.”

As for Mtn. View, this was a great test and a great learning experience especially for their standout receiver Joe Brown who played his second football game ever. Brown was targetted by his QB Jackson Steffen multiple times and he made plays when it was crucial. Brown broke up a pass from his free safety position, late in the fourth as Mitty was trying to stay alive and come back to score trailing 34-28. Perhaps a more seasoned free safety would have gone for a game-sealing interception. Brown’s pass breakup was a big play and a sure play to stop Mitty’s come back. And Monarchs took their last opportunity, gambled and it paid off with a 60-yard TD by Scudero.

This one-point loss to the Monarchs is meaningless to the Spartans if you look at the big picture.  They can look at it as a primer for what is still to come. This tough loss against Mitty, if any, should give them more confidence. Week #4 will be another big test when the Gators of Sacred Heart Prep come to town. It will be a night game, at home and a win will surely build more confidence for the rest of the season.