San Diego Football Struck by Lightning
It’s circled on the calendar for months. The one you can’t wait for, yet dread at the same time. The annual high school football senior night is a day of celebration, reflection and nostalgia. The final guaranteed home game for a group of seniors that have often spent their entire lives playing ball in the name of their community.
The senior night ‘dream’ is a whopping win where student-athletes can exit their home field one final time with honor. Unfortunately for many schools across San Diego county Friday night, that dream was struck with lightning…literally.
Mother nature proved to be the best team in San Diego this week, abruptly postponing and cancelling many matchups. Perhaps the most anticipated game of the week was ended at halftime with the #6 San Marcos Knights leading the #1 Torrey Pines Falcons 10-7.
For the undefeated (7-0) Falcons it was a day to respect the senior class that has so far put on one of the strongest seasons in the past decade. Instead, they sit wondering if they will ever have the chance to chase the illustrious 10-0 record.
“I was very bummed, we were all really excited to get back out there and it sucks that our last official home game was cut short,” said senior captain Luke Mikolajewski.
With many rumors and decisions traveling across the county the look for the Avocado-West league match-up is currently under discussion of either playing Monday night or counting it as a no contest. But Mikolajewski described how the Falcons want to finish the battle.
“We took a poll in our group chat and everyone wants to play…we want to finish this game!”
Another Falcon looking to continue is senior star running back Mac Bingham. But for Bingham, it’s about respect.
“Of course I want to play,” he said, “A lot of people are saying we were going to lose and I want to prove them wrong.”
The match-up meant much more than another conference meeting, as San Marcos quarterback Miles Hastings made his return to Ed Burke Field.
Hastings led the Torrey Pines Falcons to a league championship and 8-2 regular season record in 2016, his sophomore year. A family move forced Hastings to transfer from TP to San Marcos, while he continues to be great friends with many Falcons.
In an act of love, Bingham took a break carrying the rock to deliver a powerful sack on the now senior quarterback Hastings.
“It’s always fun to play your friend, I texted him after to make sure he was good and he said he was fine.”
The duel in Del Mar looks like it will be officially ruled a no contest, but there is yet to be an official statement from CIF.
A few games ended this morning, with most notably Hilltop coming from behind to beat Sweetwater 50-38.
St. Augustine and Madison have agreed to resume Monday at 3:30 PM. Another game still in consideration is Mira Mesa’s senior night game against Morse. Just eight minutes into the game, Mira Mesa the Athletic Director and personnel came onto the field to announce a 30-minute delay due to the fear of lightning.
After additional strikes the Mira Mesa Marauders were informed to put their street clothes on and go home.
The visiting Tigers scored on the first play of the game but was quickly followed by Mira Mesa quarterback Noah Tumblin’s 39-yard touchdown rush. Each team had just a single possession, proving to be very disappointing for all. But Tumblin and the 5-2 Marauders are determined to earn themselves another game at the Mecca.
“I was pretty mad but was thinking we still have a lot of football left so if we take care of business we will still get a home game,” he said.
The Marauders led 7-6 at the time the game was called off, while they are still finding out if they will continue Saturday, Monday or rule it as a no contest.
Friday night was without a doubt one of the most bizarre nights in San Diego football history, with many moving pieces still underway. An unfortunate case to lose the happy aura of senior night by poor weather, but with just ten guaranteed games, there should be lots of rescheduling throughout the next several hours.