University High School started its season with a tough 34-17 loss to the Capistrano Valley Christian Schools Eagles on Aug. 29. Despite a late surge, the Trojans could not overcome critical penalties, injuries and a dominant CVCS defense.
CVCS started strong in the first quarter, scoring a 26-yard touchdown. The Eagles then used University’s penalties to build a 13-0 lead by the end of the quarter. The Trojan defense struggled to stop the opposing team’s offense, with multiple interceptions being overturned.
“Execution-wise, we were a little off,” Head Football Coach Vincent Mesa said. “It’s our first game, so usually, first games are pretty ugly.”
The Trojans seemingly found their rhythm in the second half, which was sparked by a touchdown in the third quarter by junior Luca Clouthier, bringing the score to 27-10.
“I think toward the end, we started to get comfortable; it’s good to build on that,” Mesa said.
The Eagles scored a touchdown in the second half with less than 5 minutes left on the clock. Sixteen seconds after that, UHS scored a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, where sophomore quarterback Dylan Elmer passed the ball to senior wide receiver Carl Oldham in his first-ever touchdown pass and his first-ever varsity game.
“It was exciting starting the season after all the hard work the team put in over the offseason,” Oldham said. “All of our hard work is definitely paying off, and we just need to fix some small mistakes.”
The game ended soon after that, with the final score 34-17. While the Trojans showed moments of brilliance, they were hindered by a seemingly penetrable defense, injuries and costly penalties.
“It’s about discipline,” Mesa said. “We weren’t disciplined tonight, and we have to work on the little stuff. Everybody’s got each other’s back, and we’re here to work . . . We just got to clean up the little stuff, and we’ll be fine.”
The Trojans play their next non-league game against Glenn on Sept. 27.
