An up-and-down season for the Wilcox Chargers came to an abrupt end in the city by the bay on Saturday. The Chargers took on the Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep Fightin’ Irish on Nov. 16 at San Francisco City College in a first-round game of the Division II CCS playoffs. Despite holding a 14-12 halftime lead, the Chargers would eventually fall to the Fightin’ Irish by a final score of 34-21. A pair of second-half turnovers proved costly for Wilcox. 

“I thought we played well overall, as a squad we all did our part and picked up yards on offense,” chimed junior tailback Elijah Vallejo, who scored all three Chargers’ touchdowns. “But the offense turned the ball over three times, and we can’t win with that.” 

“Our energy and overall effort was much better than the Menlo Atherton game,” remarked Wilcox quarterback Kai Imahara, referencing his team’s 14-7 loss the previous week. “But during the second half today, that energy kind of turned on and off, which we can’t have in the playoffs, especially against a WCAL team.” 

Head Coach Paul Rosa echoed similar sentiments to his protégés after the game. 

“I thought we had a good plan on offense; we were moving the ball pretty good,” noted the head honcho. “We just had a couple turnovers that really hurt us, especially the one coming out of halftime. We had a good [kickoff] return and then we fumbled the first play.” 

While the early second-half fumble was indeed unfortunate, the Chargers are fortunate to have both Vallejo and Imahara returning for their senior seasons next year, which will be the third on a varsity for the playmaking duo. For Vallejo, the hope is to get healthy after an ankle injury lingered for most of the season. 

“I think I had a good season, dealing with a rolled ankle since week four or five,” admitted the tailback. “I powered through for the team and did all I could. I am very excited to come back next season and show out.”

As for Imahara, the quarterback missed the playoffs last season due to injury. He hopes to build on this year’s playoff experience headed into his final season. 

“It was a great feeling finally to be able to play in a playoff game with all of my brothers after missing last year,” confirmed Imahara on the playoff experience. “I’m gonna take this loss and just learn from it and just keep on building up.” 

The two juniors will have to make up for the loss of a number of key seniors next season. Two-way corner and receiver Jeremiah Arevalos, defensive end Marcel Madkins, running back Gilbert Padilla and linemen Bryan Castillo, Sione Poulivaati, and Jose Mora are just a handful of the seniors set to graduate this spring.

While it will certainly be a challenge to replenish the roster, it is a challenge that the Wilcox football program has successfully met year after year under coach Rosa. The next-man up cliche has rarely proven to be an issue for the program that went all the way to a state championship game in 2024 after losing Imahara to his late-season injury. One thing is for certain, it would be unwise for anyone in the CCS to count out the Chargers.

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