A Legacy Left Behind: Football’s Last Game

December 7th, 2025 O'Neals, CA Nicole Alas, Reporter

This past Saturday, December 6th, football’s season came to a sad end against Winters High School in the State Regional Championship. Falling short of a state title doesn’t diminish how well the team performed this season. From the start, it was clear both teams were fighting for every inch.

Charging into history- Minarets takes the field for the State Regional Championship under the lights and fog. Photo by Kaydance Musacchio

From warmups to kickoff, the atmosphere was unmatched. Fog rolled in early and never went away, making it nearly impossible to see the players and the field. But that didn’t stop anyone— the crowd continued to roar, and attendance was outstanding. The stands were packed, and the student section did not disappoint. The energy was high, and everyone in the stadium could hear us.

#6 Luke Campos with the catch. Photo by Kaydance Musacchio

The walk to the tunnel was unforgettable. The team was escorted by police and SWAT— something that doesn’t happen often. The crowd was on their feet, the student section was going crazy, police lights flashed in sync, and the music set the intensity for the night. On the way out of the tunnel, Caden Larsen did an amazing backflip, demonstrating the team’s excitement.

Following the equestrian team’s final performance, the National Anthem was performed on electric guitar by Ezra Seymour and Riley Von Wagner, moving the players as they realized this could be their last game.

Minarets started with the kickoff, but Winters struck first, scoring not even 20 seconds into the game. They took the lead 0–6, though the PAT was unclear due to the fog. Minarets fought hard, gaining a huge first down but unable to score. Fans were at the edge of their seats with every play. When Winters scored again, the game felt impossible. The first quarter ended 0–12, but everyone hoped we still had a fighting chance.

Lined up and locked in. Photo by Kaydance Musacchio

In the second quarter, Killian Paschall secured a huge first down, bringing us to the 35-yard line. Unfortunately, Minarets still couldn’t score, but the players continued to push through with grit and determination. At the very end of the half, Winters managed another touchdown. The odds were not in our favor.

When asked what the season meant to him, senior Jonathan Hamblet shared, “We succeeded in my heart. We set the bar for the future of this organization.” And they sure did.

When the second half started, Minarets was in a slump— down three touchdowns with what felt like no hope. But with 4:01 left in the third quarter, Minarets finally scored, making it 6–18. The crowd erupted. There was still hope. With 1:54 left in the quarter, Killian secured another fantastic first down. It seemed like we were going to score, but we still couldn’t execute. Just when it felt like we would only score once, Torin Wolf pulled off a touchdown with one second remaining. The crowd went wild. We were one touchdown away from being tied.

Cheering on the Mustangs every step of the way. Photo by Kaydance Musacchio

The fourth quarter began with a tough battle. Winters scored again, and the crowd grew nervous. Minarets wasn’t able to push in another touchdown, and the score hit 12–24. The PAT was good, and the scoreboard wasn’t promising. When the timer buzzed, the final score read 12–26, marking the end of the Mustangs’ season and leaving the players full of emotion.

Winters celebrated, and our players broke down. A legacy was left behind; seniors sobbed as they began to understand the weight of this loss. The scoreboard wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, but the pride in the stadium was huge. The team played with grit and loyalty to each other instead of sorrow and doubt. They gave the community a season to never forget, and even though they lost, they left the field with their heads held high.

All eyes on the play. Photo by Kaydance Musacchio

Reflecting on the night, senior Matteo Ayala said,“It was a tough loss, especially because I’m close friends with a lot of guys on this team and I want to see them succeed, especially the seniors. But more than anything, I was just proud of them for making it this far. They literally made history, and it was cool to be there for that. Hopefully the young guys can carry this thing on next year.”

Ending under bright stadium lights and thick fog, this was a season that will forever go down in Minarets history.

Written by Nicole Alas

Edited by Josephina Emerson, Travis Padgett, Avani Cheema, and Frannie Morris

Photos by Kaydance Musacchio