When the Titans lost to their rivals, the Palo Alto High School (Paly) Vikings, 55-12, it was not unexpected. The Titans knew going into the game that it would probably be their most difficult game of the season.

Paly was ranked as the top dog in the upper division with a record of 6-1. Gunn was 2-5. Paly, with 46 players, far outnumbered Gunn’s mere 27 players.

“There is a reason they’re in first place in the upper division,” junior running back Josh Lee said. “They’re bigger, stronger, more experienced.” But these odds were not enough to stop the Titans from giving it their all. “We knew it would be hard to win,” sophomore wide-receiver Patrick Osageide said. “But we were expecting to win.”

From the very start, when Paly senior running back Evan Warner ran for a touchdown within 90 seconds of the game, things did not look good for the Titans. When Paly continued to press hard on the Titan’s offense, they were forced to punt. Unfortunately, the punt was a mere 13 yards and not enough to stop the Vikings from scoring again after Paly senior quarterback Nick Godspeed completed a pass to senior wide receiver Trenton Hart, who ran over 55 yards untouched to another touchdown. This strike was followed by another touchdown from Paly, when senior running back Will Frazier ran 71 yards, cutting past the safety.

Incomplete passes and excellent Paly defense resulted in Gunn going backward and having to punt yet again. With consistent passes and big runs, Paly managed to score six touchdowns and five extra points before the end of the second half.

Time after time, the game looked hopeless for the Titans, as the Vikings played a tight defense, preventing any progress and forcing punts.

When Paly switched to their second string players in the second half, junior running back Efren Villanueva and junior fullback Brandon Boyd, dominated the third and beginning of the fourth quarter, making consistent drives for an easy two touchdowns.

In the fourth quarter, with only six minutes to go, the Titans managed an interception that led to a connected pass from senior quarterback Chris Gumbrecht to senior running back Alex Zeglin. When Gunn attempted an onside kick, junior running back Angelo Henry managed to recover the fumble leading to another touchdown, this time by Lee.

Gunn managed to end the game 55-12, an impressive feat against a team that managed to beat Los Gatos 35-6.

“We just kept playing hard and kept fighting,” Lee said. “We learned today, that we never let up.” Despite the loss, for Head Coach Matt McGinn, it showed the potential for Gunn’s team. “I’ve been here for five years,” McGinn said. “Gunn kids have the heart needed for success. We build our team around our heart and passion.”

The Titan’s look to win their final game at Saratoga on Thursday, Nov. 9.