The Titans fell short to the Fremont Firebirds at home on Oct. 12 after a grueling battle in the rain and mud. The Titans entered with a 2-3 overall record while the Firebirds were 3-2.

Fremont’s overwhelming athletic ability, including senior quarterback and wide receiver Kenny Pope, wide receiver Dante Mills and running back Patrick Washington, had a reputation for producing a high-powered offense.

Yet in the rain–a factor that hindered the speed Fremont had–the game remained up for anyone’s taking. “It really changed the game,” senior outside linebacker Josh Lee said.

Gunn senior running back Nate Burpee brought the Titans to an early 6-0 lead off a 30-yard pass from senior quarterback Stephen Strnad. The Firebirds returned the favor with a touchdown drive of their own, but Gunn shut its offense down for the remainder of the half.

The Titans forced four turnovers in all; Lee recovered two fumbles. The rain hindered not only the Firebirds’ offense, but all players’ ability on the field. “Tackling was harder and people fumbled the ball a lot more,” Strnad said.

In the third quarter, Fremont pulled ahead to a 6-17 lead after a touchdown pass from Kevin Woods to Daunte Mills. Then, senior free safety Spencer Sturken intercepted one of Woods’s passes, and Strnad quickly followed with a thunderous drive finished off by a 33-yard pass to senior wide receiver Kyle Einfalt.

At the start of the fourth quarter Fremont scored two more touchdowns to increase their lead 12-31. The Titans did not give up, and senior wide receiver Patrick Osagiede returned the kickoff past their own 40-yard line. He then finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown reception. Fremont recovered Gunn’s onside kick and they drove deep into Titan territory.

However, in a valiant effort, the Titan defense held the Firebirds deep in its own territory and got the ball back with a little over 1:30 to go in the fourth quarter, and a long field ahead of them.

Strnad led a hurried drive including a 60-yard pass to Osagiede followed by a touchdown pass to Osagiede again as time expired. “I just blocked out all outside distractions and kept throwing it,” Strnad said. “We were excited because we came back from behind and almost won it.” Burpee ran in for a two-point conversion for a final score of 26-31. D

Despite the loss, the Titan offense produced the most yards this season since facing San Mateo in the third game of the season, with 90 yards on the grounds and 217 through the air. “Our goal is to win out the rest of our games,” Strnad said. Gunn’s next game will be Friday at home against Homestead at 7 p.m.