Homecoming 2017 was a big night for all Taft High students, parents, and participating staff members. The Taft High Varsity Wildcat football players, were fired up for the for the game. The Taft High band played some amazing songs, as the two teams were getting ready for the opening kick off.

The captains for Taft were #9 Fano Maui, #56 Maino Maino, #6 Jackson Van Roekel, and #25 Thomas Stark. Taft decided to defer and began the game with Taft’s #21, Enrique Torres, kicking off. The kick was good as R.F.K. received the ball at their 33-yard line. On the first play of the game, Kennedy received a false start sending them 5 yards back. On defense, Maino Maino got the stop at the line of scrimmage, Thunderbirds on the following play got another false start.  Penalties usually hurt a team but for now this was working in Taft’s favor. Kennedy called a timeout at 10 minutes and 16 seconds in the first quarter due to their offense making mistakes early in the game. The Thunderbirds faced a fourth down situation and decided to punt the ball. Zack Tuaila got the return and was brought down at Kennedy’s 26-yard line. RFK’s defense helped move the ball down field when they jumped off sides and gave the Wildcats a first and five. Wildcat offense unable to get through RFK’s defense on 4th. Enrique Reyes went on to kick for a field goal that could put the Cat’s back on track. The kick was good Taft now with 3 on the board,  Kennedy at 0 with 6 minutes and 36 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Wildcat’s kick returned back to RFK. Kennedy was able to put it on the 40-yard line but received a penalty for holding on the following play, putting them back 10 yards. #2 Garrett Gibson on Taft defense is able to get a stop at the 41-yard line. RFK threw a complete pass putting the ball on the 45-yard line. Kennedy’s offense picked up momentum nearing the end of the 1st quarter, Wildcat defense finding it hard to stop the quick RFK offense. The Thunderbirds were on Taft’s 26-yard line and pushed through the Cat’s defense for a T.D. at 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Kennedy was now in the lead with 7 and Taft behind with 3 on the board. After the kick return, Fano Maui tore up the field as he moved the ball onto the 34-yard line. From Taft’s 34-yard line Fano Maui was able to break away from Kennedy’s defense for a huge gain making it 1st and goal now for Taft. Fano Maui back on the handoff with 13 seconds left on the clock got a Taft T.D. putting Taft back in the game. The ‘Cats played it safe and took the knee, ending the 1st quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, Kennedy got a 3-yard gain ball now on the 50 yard line. RFK on 3rd and 7 attempted a handoff,  but Taft’s #34 Harley Morgan stuffed the hole up the middle stopping the run with Kennedy having to punt the ball. The ‘Cats were now back on offense at the 17-yard line after the punt return. Fano Maui got a good gain of 6 yards, but the play was called back for holding on Taft, putting the ball on the 7-yard line. Taft’s offense was unable to get the first down,  putting pressure on the defense. The Thunderbird offense was able to get through the Wildcat defense with the ball on the ‘Cat’s 28-yard line. Wildcat defense seemed to falter as the little mistakes begin to stack up.  RFK was not able to get through the Wildcat defense and decided to kick for a field goal. The kick was good, tying the game 10-10 at 3 minutes and 47 seconds in the second quarter. ‘Cat’s offense was not able to keep possession of the ball with them having punt from their 27-yard line. The Thunderbirds got the ball to the 43-yard line on the kick return. Kennedy then threw a complete pass with the ball on Taft’s 30-yard line. Kennedy went for another pass, but Taft’s #65 Alex Garcia got through the the Thunderbird line, forcing the quarterback to scramble. Alex Garcia, not stopping, was able to get a big sack on RFK. Kennedy, not able to get a first down after the big sacked being decided to punt return rather than give ‘Cat’s the field advantage. The Wildcats, back on offense with only 9 seconds left, ran the ball with Zack Tuaila putting the ball on the 21-yard line, ending the first half of the game.

After a spectacular halftime show from the Taft High Band and Colorguard, featuring Peter Pan the third quarter began with the score tied 10-10. Both teams were looking for an opening to turn the game over to their advantage. The Wildcat offense found it hard to gain some positive yardage. Fano Maui was able to complete Van Roekle’s pass for a gain of 1 yard. The ‘Cat’s seeming not to get any momentum going on offense, punted the ball from Taft’s 36-yard line. 8 minutes and 55 second left in the third quarter, on the previous play, Kennedy fumbled the ball but was able to recover with a possible Thunderbird injury #66 Roman Prieto. The Thunderbirds attempted a deep pass from the 43-yard line but it was incomplete.  Kennedy was struggling up the field against the Wildcat defense but was able to get a first down at the 30-yard line. On the next play, RFK got a penalty for a false start with them receiving another penalty for unnecessary roughness, putting them 2nd and 24 for a first down. Taft’s defense gave little to no ground to RFK‘s offense. Zack Tuaila got a pick six, but was called back for an illegal man downfield. Wildcat offense lost their momentum after Tuaila’s pick six was called back. RFK was back on offense after ‘Cat’s punt return with 1 minute and 21 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. A few flags were thrown, Kennedy got set back a few yards but was able to get the first down at the end of the third quarter.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Thunderbirds were on the 24-yard line, throwing a pass in #1 Nick Vargas’s zone, but he was unable to stop the completion with RFK breaking the tie on the board, Taft with 10 and Kennedy at 17 in the fourth quarter at 10 minutes and 42 seconds remaining. Fano Maui got the kick off, taking the ball to the 36-yard line. Maui seemed to run with some fire. The Wildcat’s offense was not able to get the first down and punted from the 30-yard line. RFK got the ball to the 48-yard line. On the following play, a fight broke out on the field with Harley Morgan throwing punches, getting him disqualified from the rest of the game. Wildcat’s morale appeared low with 7 minutes and 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter. RFK kicked for a field goal rather than risk putting this game back into a tie; the score now was Kennedy 20, Taft 10. Taft got back on offense with 5 minutes and 30 seconds in the 4th quarter. The Wildcat offense was now picking up the pace with some big yardage by Fano Maui; the ball was on the 31-yard line in RFK territory. Jackson Van Roekel completed a pass to Thomas Stark for a first down with 2 minutes and 49 seconds on the clock. Fano Maui was able to break through the the Thunderbird’s defense getting a Wildcat T.D.–the crowd was screaming with excitement with Taft at 17 points with 2 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter of the game. Enrique Reyes did a squib kick, putting the ball back in the Wildcat’s claws at the 46-yard line. ‘Cat’s were at the 37-yard line with the game getting closer, but the ball was fumbled and Kennedy is able to recover it. Taft called a timeout at 1 minute and 13 seconds, then call another timeout at 1 minute and 6 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Wildcats go for a full-on blitz, but the Thunderbirds are able to slip through and get the first down ending the game. Final score 20-17 in favor of RFK.