By Stu Bownes

I was at practice today talking with an emotional Coach Thompson, who still couldn’t talk about last Friday’s loss to Vasquez, and watching Gault put a razor sharp Huskies Football Team through their paces when I thought about what the Huskies looked like 10 weeks ago. Wow!

Last Friday’s game at Vasquez went like the 2004 playoff game. Mammoth was up and the mojo was all on their side at the half. Then, as if scripted, the second half started with Vasquez kicking and just like 2004, the kick hit a Husky player, the Mustangs recover, the momentum swings the other way and that’s that.

The loss to Vasquez last Friday was a real body blow to the Huskies playoff hopes right when they are peaking. The 4th quarter didn’t go the Huskies way down in Acton. The Huskies were winning at the half and they were tied going into the 4th quarter.  When I asked Huskies Quarterback Lucas Underkoffler, “What happened in the 4th quarter?,” he told me that it came down to the Huskies failing to get a 1st down on the fake punt they attempted and then a few plays later they (Vasquez) had success on their own fake punt attempt that they pulled off for 67 yards. Also, the officials made an iffy PI call in the end-zone against the DML’s leader in interceptions and knockdowns, Ricky. [Some kids, like Ricky, are so good at their position that at times it is hard for officials to see the difference between a foul and a fantastic play]. Whatever, the 24-14 loss to Vasquez means that the Huskies will have to not only win their next 2 games but they will also have to hope Vasquez gets derailed in order to make the playoffs this season. That could happen if Excelsior Charter, playing at home, could step up and beat Vasquez this Friday.

The Huskies are looking forward to tonight’s (Nov. 1) final home game of the season at Gault-McClure field in Mammoth.

There’s no question the Huskies are coming into tonight’s match-up a bit peeved about last week’s result.  Desert Christian is the weakest team in the DML this season with an 0-5 record in league play. Expect a big Huskies win and keep your fingers crossed that Excelsior pulls off an upset.