Vallejo High School’s football team faced an unexpected setback in the opening round of the North Coast Section playoffs, losing 36-24 to Concord High on October 27, 2023. The game took a crucial turn when starting quarterback Julio Ramirez suffered a broken collarbone early in the first quarter. This injury significantly impacted Vallejo’s game strategy and performance.
Concord’s standout player, Jacari Gibson, capitalized on Vallejo’s misfortune, rushing for 161 yards and scoring three touchdowns. His efforts propelled Concord into the next round of the Division 7 playoffs, where they will compete against Middletown. Meanwhile, Vallejo concluded its season with a commendable record of 7-4, marking their third consecutive playoff appearance.
Head coach Mike Wilson III expressed pride in his team’s resilience despite the loss. Vallejo’s football program has seen a resurgence in recent years, winning at least seven games after a decade-long struggle, where they failed to win five games in any season between 2005 and 2022.
“What I will remember the most about this season is this team played hard,” Wilson remarked. “We came back in a lot of games and scored a lot of points, so I’m really proud of this team. We never gave up, just like tonight. We tried to come back but came up a little short.”
The game began with Vallejo’s hopes high, but the early injury to Ramirez forced a quick adjustment. Senior Elijah Peace, typically a wide receiver, stepped into the quarterback role. Wilson noted the challenge this posed to their game plan, indicating they had intended to utilize more passing plays against Concord.
“We had to adapt a lot. We weren’t prepared for that,” Wilson stated. “He (Ramirez) went out pretty early, and it changed the whole game plan of what we were going to do.”
Despite the setbacks, Peace made an impressive effort, finishing the game with 102 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 94 passing yards on seven completions. Wilson praised Peace’s determination, highlighting his ability to remain focused and perform under pressure.
Concord took control of the game early, with Gibson rushing for a 19-yard touchdown to establish a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After a field goal from Jair Montano extended their lead to 10-0, Gibson struck again just before halftime, running in another touchdown from four yards out, bringing the score to 17-0.
Despite the deficit, Wilson conveyed that the atmosphere in the locker room remained positive at halftime. “The mood at the half was up,” he explained. “We just had to make some stops and get ourselves back in the game.”
It took time for Vallejo to find its rhythm in the second half. Concord increased its lead to 24-0 with a 31-yard touchdown run from Chris Dunn. Vallejo finally responded with a 28-yard rushing touchdown from Peace, narrowing the score to 24-6, although the conversion attempt failed.
Peace’s determination shone through as he continued to drive the team forward. “I just knew I had to get it done,” he said. “I had to run the ball a lot. The line did a good job of calling their blitzes.”
The game saw fluctuating momentum as Vallejo scored again with a 20-yard run from Peace, making it 24-12. Yet, Concord quickly retaliated, with quarterback Juan Gonzalez connecting with Erik Madayag for a 23-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 30-12.
Vallejo managed to score once more with a 1-yard touchdown run from Peace, closing the gap to 30-18. However, Gibson responded swiftly with another touchdown run, further solidifying Concord’s position at 36-18.
In the final moments of the game, Peace found Romelo Butts for a 26-yard touchdown pass, but it was too late, and Vallejo’s playoff journey came to an end.
Vallejo High’s season may have concluded, but the resilience and growth displayed throughout the year signal a promising future for the program. The team has shown significant improvement, and their determination to succeed bodes well for the upcoming seasons.
