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Vikings fall to Truckee in Sierra Bowl

Wyatt Haupt Jr.
whaupt@sierrasun.com
South Tahoe quarterback Peyton Galli looks to throw the ball downfield during a 32-27 loss to Truckee on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Surprise Stadium in Truckee.
Wyatt Haupt Jr. / Sierra Sun

A last-minute drive came up short on the road for the South Tahoe Vikings, who lost 32-27 to the Truckee Wolverines on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 28 at Surprise Stadium.

The Vikings (5-4 overall, 5-4 3A Northern League) mounted the drive with 3:10 left in the game after Wolverines running back Jackson Skaff scored on a 2-yard run to give Truckee the lead.

The South Tahoe offense then took possession of the ball at their own 29-yard line. Senior quarterback Peyton Galli was able to march his squad down the field eventually setting up a first and 10 at the 20-yard line with 33 seconds left in the Sierra Bowl battle.

But a feisty Truckee (8-2 overall, 7-2 3A Northern League) defense was able to fend off a series of throws into the end zone, and come away with the win.

“We wanted to save time … we wanted to score,” said Galli on the final drive shortly after the game ended.

Galli got the Vikings on the board first when he connected with 6 foot 5 inch senior wide receiver Mccallan Castles on a second and goal pass with 9:18 left in the first quarter.

Less than three minutes later, Castles caught a 44-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-0. The successful extra point kick made the score 14-0.

But Truckee was able to answer with drive that ended with a 37-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jamie Parisi. A failed extra point left the score at 14-6.

South Tahoe was able to tack on another touchdown early in the second quarter when senior Jakob Costley scored on a 2-yard run. A successful extra point kick made the score 21-6 with 11:33 left in the second quarter.

Three possessions later, Truckee was able to creep closer when junior quarterback Marcus Bellon scored on a nifty 62-yard run.

Bellon juked a defender at the line of scrimmage with a jump cut, and then dashed down the field for the score to close the gap to 21-13 with 3:43 left in the second quarter.

Truckee would score again as the half ended when Parisi rumbled 56 yards. A failed two-point conversion left the score 21-19 at the half.

A failed onside kick by South Tahoe to start the third quarter left the Wolverines with first and 10 at midfield. A short while later, Bellon rolled out to his left and found Parisi for a touchdown. A successful extra point made the score 26-21 with 10:39 left in the third quarter.

South Tahoe retook the lead near the end of the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Galli. A failed conversion left South Tahoe with a 27-26 lead before Truckee finished off the Vikings.

Vikings Head Coach Louis Franklin said his team put forth a solid effort, but gave up too man big plays against a team they will face next week in the first round of the playoffs.

“We’re stepping up our game on the South Lake. We want to make this a rivalry … we’re there,” he said. “We just made too many mistakes.


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