Early in the year when the school handed out the football schedule, many cringed when they saw that the football team would play Strathmore on Homecoming. Strathmore has never lost to FC and averaged more than 40 points in victory. However, as most of the student body looked on, the home team shut out the Spartans, 16-0, on Nov. 3.

“This was the best Homecoming ever, and I have seen a lot of homecomings,” Sam Fisher ’03, Eagle quarterback said. “We beat Strathmore, my class float won, Sam won queen, Our ?D’ played well and our offense played executed.”

Fisher led the Eagles in the first half with one touchdown pass to Michael Van Beek, ’03, and rushed for the other. Fisher had 73 yards passing.

“Sam and I finally hooked up for a touchdown against Strathmore,” Van Beek, said. “He usually can’t see me on the slant route I do, but finally he did.” Van Beek also had one of the defenses four interceptions.

The Eagles defense consistently stopped the Spartan offense as they gave up only 22 rushing yards and 100 passing yards.

“Even though we got a penalty at halftime,” head coach Jon Hall said “I felt our ?D’ really stepped it up and our offense made huge plays when it counted.”

After the game, The Fresno Bee ranked the FC defense sixth in the San Joaquin Valley.

“In our school’s history, Strathmore has a history of beating us by more than 45 points,”
defensive coordinator Christopher Schultz said. “Now in beating them, it really shows the direction that this program is going. Also, I am really proud of the way our ?D’ played. I am really proud of Austin Livingston (’03) and Ryenn Austin-Brown (’02).”

Livingston was named the Gatorade Will To Win Athlete player of the game by the coaches. He won a t-shirt, a certificate and an opportunity now to win a $5,000 scholarship. He had one interception, two tackles for losses and a sack when the Spartans were on the 15-yard line and poised to score.

“The defense really stepped it up against Strathmore,” Austin Brown said. “The reason for that was due to the speed of our D-line and our ability to get in there and make tackles.”

Curtis Scott, ’03, sacked the Spartan quarterback in the fourth quarter to record at safety and rounded out the scoring.

The defense has only allowed 1593 yards in seven games which gives them a sixth best ranking in the Valley.

The varsity Eagles are now 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Central Sierra League. They next play at Farmersville against the Aztecs on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m.