Despite several mistakes, the Spartans had the ball and a chance to get the win, but a failed last-play pass attempt to the end zone had the Eastlake Falcons cheering for joy as they played spoiler for the Spartans’ homecoming game.

Pebble Hills started off the game rough as they were unable to contain the offense of the Falcons and were behind 7-0 the entire first quarter.

Although the Spartans managed a huge 21-point explosion in the second quarter, this did not matter to head coach Mark Torres because the Falcons found a way to hang around most of the game.

“We didn’t execute,” Torres said. “We didn’t convert when we needed to. I think we’re just starting to think we’re pretty good instead of just getting the work in like you’re supposed to and that falls on me. I let these kids down, and I let our community down by not having our kids prepared for this the right way.”

When the Spartans need a big play, Caleb Gerber is their to answer, and he did with an 85-yard touchdown, giving Pebble Hills their first lead of the game in the second quarter Thursday night against Eastlake.

“What’s going through my mind for sure is how does it affect the team, and what my effort to the team is, and what it does to my teammates as a whole,” Gerber said. “You know, it’s all about the team.”

Junior Sebastian Ochoa ended his streak of game without a turnover, as he threw a total of two interceptions. One in the first quarter of the game, and the second being at the very end as the Spartans tried to go for the game-winning touchdown. The pass was picked off in the closing seconds of the game against the Falcons.

Senior defensive lineman, Alex Diaz, had a huge sack on Eastlake’s junior quarterback, Daine Kirtley, in the fourth quarter, swinging the momentum towards the Spartans as they were trying to scrap for a win.

“You know our team busted their butts, everybody did their jobs,” Diaz said. “Everybody in line where they’re supposed to be in line and when all that happens, and it comes together, then it makes a big play.” 

Torres believes now, more than ever, that the Spartans must start from the ground up and prove themselves if they want to salvage their season.

“We’re at square one, right back to simply unproven,” Torres said. “You know we got to look ourselves in the mirror. It’s not a district game, and that’s how we got to look at it.”

The Spartans go into a bye-week and look to strengthen their team as they prepare for district play.