A game-winning touchdown pass with seconds remaining sent the fans home happy last week at San Lorenzo Valley High.
The game Friday, Oct. 16, was deemed a success not only because of junior Luke Roberts’ last-second grab in the end zone and the ensuing extra point to seal the Cougars’ 28-27 win over Soquel, but also because of the front gate and snack bar proceeds.
The first Friday-night football game at home in school history raised $5,000 at the gate — twice the total from the previous weeks’ Saturday games, Principal Mike Arredondo said.
“We made the same amount in one game (on Friday) as during all three games on a Saturday,” athletic director Marcus Northcutt said.
Also, snack bar sales were about $1,000 higher than other weeks’, totaling nearly $5,000, booster club president Scott Lipperd reported.
“On that end of it, from the boosters’ perspective, it was a great event and a great game,” Lipperd said.
It was a successful haul both for the school and club, which will consider installing permanent lighting at the field. The booster club will soon look at the logistics to buy and install lights.
“It’s high on the agenda,” Lipperd said. “We’ll form a committee and look at the costs — the actual costs and hidden costs, like electricity use. We’ll find what it is going to take to do it.”
Friday’s game was a nail-biter until the end as the Cougars and Knights traded scores throughout the first half, with Kyle Todd and Nick Gorman scoring touchdowns to give the Cougars a 14-10 lead at halftime.
Soquel took the lead in the third quarter when running back Tyler Evey scored twice on the ground and hit a field goal to put Soquel up 27-14.
In the fourth, the Cougars stormed back as quarterback Trevor Romele punched in a touchdown to start the quarter and then threw a 12-yard fade to Roberts, who leaped for the game-winner as time expired.
Todd rushed for 75 total yards and broke 1,000 yards on the season.
