American Canyon High School celebrated Senior Night in style, securing a commanding 35-14 victory over Petaluma in a match held on October 13, 2023. The Wolves showcased their resilience and tactical prowess, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Vine Valley Athletic League, now standing at 3-0.
The game started with a slow defensive response from American Canyon, but a pivotal interception by senior Cole Gholar late in the first quarter turned the tide. After Petaluma scored first with a touchdown from Brody Stevens, Gholar’s interception marked a turning point. The Wolves’ defense, previously struggling, tightened their grip and did not allow another score until the final minutes of the game.
“We had to move the line over a little and make little adjustments just to make sure we were in the right gaps,” Gholar explained. “Our fire was lit after that and we were ready to go out and make a play.”
American Canyon’s offense quickly gained momentum as well. Following Gholar’s interception, the Wolves responded with a powerful touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Kameron Hunter to Webster Burks, covering an impressive 73 yards. Burks reflected on the play, stating, “Kameron told me ‘go deep, beat him outside’ and that’s exactly what I did.”
The Wolves’ head coach, Marcellus Holmes, emphasized the importance of sticking to their game plan, despite the early challenges. “Michael Chisley had a great game plan with his triple-option offense. The big difference seemed to be us getting those three turnovers,” Holmes noted.
A strong ground game complemented the passing attack, with senior Andre Lopez rushing for 97 yards on 11 carries and junior Isaac Anderson contributing 81 yards on just three attempts. Anderson’s notable 44-yard touchdown run increased the Wolves’ lead, followed by another touchdown by Anderson in the second quarter.
Holmes praised Anderson’s versatility, calling him the team’s “American Army Knife.” The balance in their offense kept Petaluma’s defense guessing, as Hunter continued to excel in his role, throwing for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown to Burks, a 16-yard pass, came just as the first half concluded, extending the Wolves’ lead to 28-7.
American Canyon’s defensive efforts were further highlighted by a second interception from Jamar Choyce Jr. Although they were unable to convert this opportunity into points, the Wolves capitalized on a third takeaway. Chamari Urrutia recovered a fumble, leading to a short touchdown run by Marcus-jasiri Hughes, which solidified a 35-7 lead.
Despite a late touchdown from Petaluma’s Evan Clarke, who rushed for an impressive 169 yards on 34 carries, the Trojans could not close the gap. Gholar expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, particularly on such a significant night for the seniors. “It feels amazing to get this win on Senior Night. Last year we didn’t get the dub, but this year we made sure to come away with a win,” he said.
With this victory, the Wolves improved to 6-1 overall, and they are set to face Napa in their next match. The team’s strong performance not only honored their seniors but also demonstrated their commitment to maintaining a successful season.