Despite a rooter section cheering them on, the boys’ varsity football team could not overcome three interceptions as host Templeton beat them, 45-20, on Nov. 14 and eliminated the Eagles from the Sierra Division playoffs.

Templeton’s bigger players and poor tackling played a role in the visiting Eagles according to head coach Jon Hall.

“Their size and physicality wore us down,” Hall said. “We had the opportunity to contain them and make tackles, but we just didn’t.

Templeton cornerback Weston Scantlin had three interceptions and returned one for a 28-yard touchdown, giving Templeton a 31-7 lead by the third quarter.

“Penetration up front caused Seth [quarterback Fisher, ’04] to unload early, giving the defensive backs a chance to break on the ball,” Hall said. “The interception for a TD was a case of Scantlin being in the right place at the right time.

“Even with the loss, I felt we ended on a positive note. The team matured throughout the season and really understood what it meant to be a good football team by the end of the season. I was really proud of our guys especially the way they finished the fourth quarter of a disappointing playoff game.”

The teams each scored two TDs in the last frame as Fisher hit Carson Belmont, ’05, with a 16-yard TD and Belmont passed to Adam Spears, ’04, on a 1-yard play. Fisher scored on a 7-yard run in the first quarter for FC’s other points.

The Eagles were hampered by four turnovers, three interceptions and one fumble, which led to 21 Templeton points and quelled potential comeback drives.

“Turnovers have been our Achilles heal all season long and it was no different against Templeton,” Fisher said. “Although I had my best passing game of the season in terms of passing yards, I still had three interceptions and those all fall on my shoulders.” Fisher passed for 238 yards.

The visitors’ No. 2 ranked defense had difficulty containing Templeton’s vaunted rushing attack, as the host Eagles ran for 322 yards and had 457 yards of total offense. Senior tailback Brad Dykhouse was Templeton’s main weapon, rushing for 149 yards on 25 carries. Templeton’s 45 points were the most Fc’s defense gave up all season.

“We contained Dykhouse fairly well early on by not allowing big runs,” Hall said. “But as the game progressed, we tired and started tackling poorly, allowing Dykhouse to finish us off.”

Middle linebacker Rene Charest, ’04, agreed with coach Hall’s assessment.

“They were extremely quick and had excellent blocking schemes that gave our defense problems,” middle linebacker Rene Charest, ’04, said. “They just kept pounding and pounding away, which wore our defense down and let them control the clock.”

The visiting Eagles finished 7-4 overall and 7-3 in the Central Sierra League.