Football drops season opener to Fresno City

Despite a strong effort, the Vikings couldn't maintain momentum, falling 37-13 to Fresno in their season opener at Viking Stadium. After being shut out in the first quarter, Diablo Valley started to find their rhythm in the second, largely due to the play of quarterback Teddy Booras. Booras connected on 22 of 39 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns, leading a pair of scoring drives that briefly brought DVC back into the game.

In the second quarter, the Vikings got on the board with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Booras to wide receiver David Pierro, who had a standout game with 14 receptions for 134 yards. This drive covered 63 yards over 10 plays, showing flashes of the team's offensive potential. Pierro was a constant threat throughout the game, using his speed and agility to exploit Fresno's secondary.

DVC's defense, led by Wesley Garton and Charles Cox, fought hard to slow Fresno's offense. Garton recorded six solo tackles, including two tackles for loss, while Cox added five tackles and two more tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Anthony Henry also contributed with six tackles, as Diablo Valley tried to disrupt Fresno's rhythm throughout the game. The defense managed to sack Fresno's quarterbacks three times, with Malik Viewins, Roarke Hoban, and Michael Estrada combining for those sacks.

DVC's offense found more success just before halftime when Booras threw his second touchdown of the night, a 15-yard pass to Cade Young, capping off a 75-yard drive in just six plays. This touchdown brought the Vikings within five points, making the score 18-13 and giving the team hope heading into the locker room.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, the second half was a different story. Despite controlling the time of possession for over 31 minutes, they couldn't score after halftime. The run game struggled, with the team only rushing for 74 yards on 27 attempts, as Fresno's defense clamped down. 

The Vikings also suffered from costly penalties, committing 11 for 89 yards, which stunted their offensive drives and gave Fresno favorable field position. Diablo Valley showed moments of promise, particularly through the air with Booras and Pierro leading the charge. However, the inability to sustain drives in the second half and defensive lapses allowed Fresno to pull away in the end.

The Vikings will head to American River College next Saturday, September 14^th, to take on the Beavers at 1pm.