Turnovers Cost Wildcats in Defeat

Considering that is the reigning CIF Southern Section 8-Man Football Division 1 champion, it was hard to peg the Wildcats as the underdogs heading into Saturday afternoon's season opener at rival Brentwood.

It was just as hard to consider them the favorites though, because the Wildcats playing 11-man football meant their entire roster having to go both ways. Coach knew it would take everything his team had to emerge with a win. It almost happened as the game went down to the wire.

However, Brentwood junior quarterback Connor Boggs scored the decisive touchdown on a 10-yard scramble late in the fourth quarter that lifted the Eagles to a 14-7 victory heading into their bye week.

"That's a tough team that knows how to win and we were expecting a tough battle," Brentwood special teams/defensive backs and receivers coach Mike Workman said. "Sure enough, it was a struggle the whole way. We forced seven turnovers and still we needed a late touchdown to pull it out."

Boggs shook off several errant throws in the first half to direct three long drives in the third quarter, but none of them resulted in points against the Wildcats (0-1), who began the season No. 2 in the 8-Man Division 1 poll behind Excelsior, the team Windward beat in the final last December.

"We have a lot to work on offensively but we have some time off to practice," Workman said. "The main thing is taking better care of the ball and scoring points when we're inside the 20. Windward gave us plenty to think about."

The Eagles (1-1) blanked Windward 22-0 last season, but Saturday's game was a different story.

After forcing Brentwood to punt on its first possession, the Wildcats struck first on a 50-yard screen pass from to , who showed why he is the reigning 8-Man Most Valuable Player, eluding several tacklers on his way to the end zone.

"We felt good when we scored first. That's what we wanted to do," Siegal said. "Our defense played well and kept us in it all game, I guess we just made one too many mistakes."

Grudge games are played with emotion and both sides had loud and enthusiastic fans cheering them on. It didn't take long for Brentwood to respond as junior running back Jared Ashkar tied the game 7-7 on a two-yard plunge later in the first quarter. 

There were numerous turnovers in a frenzied first half but neither team was able to capitalize on the opponents' miscues. Dawson intercepted an overthrown pass and returned it to Brentwood's 30-yard line, but two plays later Eagles freshman free safety Eli Stern picked off a pass and returned it back to Windward's 42.

Windward linemen , , and brothers and were able to protect Siegal, and just long enough to complete a few passes to Dawson and his fellow wide receivers.

"We really wanted to win this game," said Hake, who played both quarterback and tight end on offense and linebacker on defense for the Wildcats. "Our goal is to repeat [as CIF champions]. We expect a lot of ourselves. It's tough to come so close and lose at the end but we can rebound from this like we did last year."

Windward was ranked second behind Excelsior in the 8-Man Divison 1 preseason poll, despite the fact that the Wildcats defeated Excelsior in overtime in the championship game last December. Hake knows there is a good chance of a rematch with another title at stake.

"We're the top two teams from last year and I expect to play them again," Hake said. "They're tough and so are we. That would be great if we play them again but we both have to get there."

Windward (0-1) won six of its next seven games after losing to Brentwood last season. The Wildcats will try to rebound Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Riverside Christian at .

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