Last Friday, the Christian Brothers Falcons landed at Vista Del Lago to play the Eagles. This was the championship game to decide who would be the CAL League Champs. The game meant a lot to the Christian Brothers football family because the last time the team won a league title was at Vista Del Lago and with Spencer Webb ‘18 who tragically passed away in July of this year. With Webb’s Oregon jersey placed on the Falcons’s bench to pay tribute, the game started. In previous games there was a dual quarterback rotation between Deakon Holden ‘26 and William Littlejohn ‘24, but in this game Littlejohn was the main starter. The first quarter was a slow one with no offensive production from either team. In the second quarter the Eagles were the first to score, putting up 14 points before Littlejohn threw the ball up to star sophomore wide receiver Philip Bell ‘25 for the touchdown. The Eagles would go on to score one more touchdown making the score 21-6 going into halftime. Although the game wasn’t going as planned, there was still a chance for the Falcons.

Coming out after halftime, the team was talked to by Coach Cody Galea, the defensive coordinator, who told the team about the Falcons Volleyball team who was down 2 sets to nothing with the possibility of being eliminated, but came back to reverse sweep Roseville in the quarterfinals of their playoff run for a win. After talking about the volleyball team's win, he turned to the scoreboard that showed 21-6 and said to the team that the fighting spirit runs in the falcons blood, and told the team to go out and give it their all. 

After hearing this speech the falcons locked down the Eagles and proceeded to tie the score up 21-21 in the 3rd quarter with rushing touchdowns from running back/linebacker Landon Howard '23 and William Littlejohn. The Falcons also converted a great 2 point catch from Philip Bell to even out the score from 21-12 to 21-14. Going into the 4th quarter the game was tied up until Landon Howard ran in for another touchdown making the score 28-21. The touchdown helped the Falcons take their first lead of the night. That lead wouldn’t last for long as the Eagles rushed in a touchdown of their own tying the game up at 28-28. After that score, the Eagles attempted an onside kick and recovered it, but what was thought to be a momentum changer turned into a punt as the Falcons defense stayed solid. From this punt, the Falcons drove down the field, but starting quarterback William Littlejohn got hurt from a quarterback scramble, so backup quarterback Deakon Holden came into the game and led a drive to the goal line. What was thought to be an easy score from the 2 years line turned into a disaster when the Falcons fumbled and the Eagles recovered the ball. When things were looking grim for the Falcons, Dustin Regino ‘23 tackled Vista’s quarterback for a safety in the endzone on the first play after the fumble, changing the tone of the game making it 30-28. The Falcons would get the ball after the safety and score with Deakon Holden throwing a ball to Marcus Price ‘23 for the game sealing touchdown at 37-28. Although the Eagles would go down and score, their onside kick was placed out of bounds and the clock ran out of time as the Falcon offense kneeled the ball. On Vista Del Lago’s senior night the Falcons came out victorious 37-35 in a championship game to remember.

This season is being dedicated to Spencer Webb, and the regular season ended with the Falcons capturing their first CAL league title since 2017. Looking on to the D3 playoffs the Falcons are the #4 seed and have a bye this week. Good Luck to the Falcons as they try to make a run for a section title!