Monte Vista Ends Foothill's 19-Year Playoff Streak

Jeff Lockie threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to sophomore Marco Zamora as overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit to qualify for the North Coast Section playoffs with a 12-7 win on senior night.

While the win assured the Mustangs a berth in the playoffs for the 10th-straight season, it ended one of the most impressive playoff streaks in Bay Area history. Foothill hadn't missed the playoffs since 1992 and needed a win Friday night and a win next week against crosstown rival Amador Valley to keep it alive.

For awhile, the Falcons looked like they just might pull it off.

"Every time you play Foothill you know it's going to be a tough game," Monte Vista coach Craig Bergman said. "They are just so well coached."

Cody Shields intercepted the Oregon-bound Lockie in the first half and returned it over 70 yards to the Monte Vista 3-yard line. Griffith Gates punched it in on the next  play to put the Falcons up 7-0. 

The Mustangs looked to tie the game just before halftime but Lockie was intercepted in the end zone to preserve the lead.

After three-straight punts, the Monte Vista offense finally began to click. Lockie found his form and led the team on a  6-play, 76-yard scoring drive, capped by a 26-yard pass to Zamora. A miss point-after left the Falcons with a 7-6 lead, but it didn't last long.

Foothill went three-and-out and the Mustangs, scored two plays later.

Lockie's second touchdown pass to Zamora went for 78 yards and with a minutes, 35 seconds left in the third.

Foothill couldn't sustain a long drive all night and when forced to go to the air, it simply couldn't move the ball. The Falcons final drive crossed into Monte Vista territory put turned the ball over on downs with less than 20 seconds to go. 

"Story of our season," Foothill coach Matt Sweeney said

The Falcons will have a chance to play spoiler next week against Amador Valley, which will need a win to qualify for the playoffs.

"We're going to be fired up," Sweeney said.

The Mustangs will travel to San Ramon Valley next week for a date with its rival. 

Lockie completed 11 of 18 passes for 257 yards and Zamora had five catches for 157.

Jamirr Holland ran for 100 yards on 22 carries for Foothill and Gates added 60 yards on 16 carries. 

What a difference two years can make.

The last time these two teams met at Monte Vista current Oregon State starting quarterback  (Foothill) threw for 390 yards and Stanford No. 2 quarterback threw for 393 yards in a 41-37 Foothill win that was broadcast on ESPNU. 

———————————————

Follow Kyle Bonagura on Twitter