Friday night the Aliso Niguel Wolverines were able to secure their first league win during Homecoming against the El Toro Chargers in a close game that almost brought the two teams into overtime. Aliso had previously not won a league game since 2019. The win brings the team into a 5-4 overall record and a 1-1 record in league now in 3rd place behind Trabuco Hills and San Juan Hills. 

San Juan Hills is currently first place in the Sea View League and they are scheduled to go head to head with the Wolverines this Friday at San Juan Hills High School.

The win put the Wolverines in a perfect place to qualify for CIF as they now possess the 50% record necessary to be eligible for the playoffs. 

The Homecoming atmosphere definitely contributed to the win as the Aliso student section was packed well into the 4th quarter as the school showed up for their team. 

Leading up to the game Coach Callahan spoke about the lack of changes they made in their practice regimen. 

“We don’t worry about our opponents, we worry about us. We really focus on the details. We had a great week at practice and we just challenged everyone. It helped us get on top.” 

Throughout the game, though it was a close whether or not the Wolverines would come out on top at all. Coach Callahan tried to focus on the team’s determination.

“Not quitting, we did not have a good game at all but we did enough to win and that’s all that matters.” 

Throughout the game, the score stayed even as both teams failed to score points in the first quarter. Going into the second quarter both teams were able to get on the scoreboard. The Chargers scored the first touchdown of the night with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by #31 Elvis De Lao Vega. 

The Wolverines responded when with less than a minute in the first half Hunter Najam (11) threw a pass to #11 Dylan Kissen for a 22-yard touchdown tying the score 7-7. 

The Wolverines emerged from halftime to a tied score continuing the game the same way they started it, tied. 

The third quarter showed no change in the score. Well into the fourth quarter the teams were still tied with the possibility of overtime looming over their heads. 

With a pass from Hunter Najum to #85 Anyden Sanchez (12) the Wolverines ended up at El Toros five yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. Hunter Najum went through the middle with a one-yard rushing touchdown to pull the Wolverines ahead 14-7.

With no information about playoffs at this time. The win allowed for Aliso’s seniors, students and players alike, to experience a win at what could be their last home game at Aliso.