SAN JOSE — A three-headed rushing attack composed of running backs Hudson Vye and Brady Hernandez along with quarterback Jacob Gibson, has been a key factor in Leland’s late-season coming together.
On Saturday a new wrinkle was deployed with Gibson throwing it, instead of handing off, to his two backfield mates.
With the game tied late in the fourth quarter and possibly heading to overtime, Vye snuck his way out of the backfield and was all alone on the receiving end of a 76-yard game-deciding touchdown pass from Gibson as Leland won the Central Coast Section Division V championship, 27-21, over Sequoia at MacDonald High.
“All week we’d been planning against their defense, we knew their backers weren’t going to really cover me,” Vye said. “So it was designed for me to run that wheel, it worked, and there was nothing but history there. It was certainly a great feeling.”
Leland’s Hudson Vye (4) runs with the ball to score a touchdown against Sequoia in the fourth quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
It was the fifth section championship for Leland, which was 2-2 at one point this season before finishing the season winning eight of its last nine.
Hernandez also came out of the backfield to catch a touchdown pass from Gibson, a 27-yarder in the second quarter.
Overall, Leland was balanced on offense with 186 yards rushing and 184 passing. Vye rushed for 114 yards on 12 carries and Gibson, in addition to throwing for two scores, also rushed for two touchdowns.
An equally big factor was the play of Leland’s defense in the second half.
The Chargers went into the game with a defensive focus on stopping Sequoia running back Jordan Crockett V. They loaded the box and Sequoia responded by putting the ball in the air. Shawn Royer completed 13 of 15 passes in the first half, 10 of them to Randy Nunez, and the Ravens had a 21-15 lead at halftime.
“We came into the game to stop 5 (Crockett),” Leland coach Kelly King Jr. said. “We knew he was a really good player. (Nunez) kind of went off. We made some substitutions on the defensive side, played more aggressive, got some help over the top. We said at halftime we weren’t going to lose to (Crockett) or (Nunez). Make somebody else beat us.”
Sequoia’s Jordan Crockett V (5) runs with the ball against Leland in the first quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
That strategy paid off as Leland held Sequoia scoreless over the final two quarters.
Sequoia’s first possession of the second half ended on an interception by Hernandez, part of a very versatile contribution on his part to the win. He also blocked a punt in the end zone for a safety for the first score of the game.
Leland proceeded to march 91 yards on 14 plays, 13 of them on the ground, with Gibson scoring on a 19-yard run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score deadlocked at 21-21.
After Vye’s touchdown reception put Leland on top, Sequoia tried to respond but was unable to come up with the big gainer like it had in the first half.
Nunez, who had 169 yards receiving on his 10 first-half catches, finished with 16 receptions for 214 yards. Royer completed 23 of 31 passes for 273 yards, ran for one TD and threw to Nunez for another. Crockett gained 58 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown as Sequoia (7-6), playing in its first section championship game since 2010, fell just short.
“We want this to be the new baseline, the new expectation,” said first-year Sequoia coach Frank Mems Jr. “We’ve got some young hungry guys. We lost (defensive standout) Mosese Tangitau on the last play against South City, so freshmen, sophomores had to step up. I’m hoping they use this as motivation. Hopefully after we lick our wounds we’ll get rolling with our offseason program.”
Leland celebrates after winning against Sequoia during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Sequoia’s Randy Nunez (22) is tackled by Leland’s Cole Canter (5)and Leland’s Wyatt Markos (1) in the second quarter at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Sequoia’s Randy Nunez (22) tries to make a catch against Leland’s Cole Canter (5) in the second quarter at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Leland’s Jacob Gibson (3) throws the ball against Sequoia in the first quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Sequoia’s Shawn Royer (7) throws the ball against Leland in the first quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Leland’s Jacob Gibson (3) preps to throw the ball against Sequoia in the first quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Leland’s Cole Canter (5) can’t make a catch against Sequoia’s Randy Nunez (22) in the second quarter at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Sequoia’s David Ahlgren (80) kicks the ball for a field goal against Leland in the first quarter during the Central Coast Section Division V football championship game at MacDonald High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
