On Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, the Berkeley High School Yellowjackets’ football team faced off against tough opponent Dublin High School Gaels. BHS students brought all the energy and Jacket pride for the much anticipated first game of the season. Excitement was high in the stands as students showed out for the annual opener game blackout theme. Just minutes into the game, Senior wide receiver William Puamau took Dublin’s kick off, broke away from the defense, and and sprinted down the field to score a touchdown. With BHS scoring an electric first touchdown, they end the first quarter with flickering stadium lights, cheering crowds, and a 6-3 lead.
According to Head Coach David Perry, their strategies for the game were for offense to “pound the rock, and run right at their face.” As for defense, “we wanted to pressure the quarterback and make him run so we’d have opportunities to hit the quarterback as much as possible,” Perry said.
Five different players accounted for nine sacks, something the team had clearly set their mind to doing. Four minutes into the second quarter BHS scored a safety, tackling Dublin in their own endzone, widening their lead by two points. Heading into the third quarter, Dublin scored a touchdown, quickly followed by a field goal at the three yard line. With BHS down 10-8, the crowd was on the edge of their seats.
After tense second and third quarters, BHS wrestled for the lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. They entered the final quarter down 10-8. The team succeeded offensively, managing to score a second touchdown, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. With just minutes left, BHS protected their four point lead, securing the win for their first game of the season.
Senior William Puamau highlighted the first kick return as the moment that brought up the team’s intensity which they then maintained throughout the rest of the game. It was a hard fought victory, challenging BHS both offensively and defensively in the final quarter.
Perry stated the team’s preparation for the upcoming season has centered around team culture. “Coming together as a team, building team culture and team chemistry has been huge for us.”
The dedication, culture, and chemistry on the field led to the 14-10 win. Coming off the game, senior wide receiver/defensive back William Puamau said, “Coach Perry worked us hard, Coach Miles, all the coaches. They got us right for this game, and prepared us, mentally and physically.”
The game had many highlights, but for senior Ian Wong, it was “just going out there, being with my brothers, going to war one last time.” For Coach Perry, “the biggest highlight was just watching it all kinda begin to come together, and play to the level and expectation of my coaching staff and I.”
The Jacket pride radiated from the stands, matching the pride in the community that is built on the field. Coach Perry inspires his players to put their best foot forward in games by encouraging them to play for loved ones, saying, “if you love somebody, you’ll play so much harder for them.”
The outcome of the game is sure to motivate students, friends, and families to continue to show out and support the Berkeley High Jackets at each and every game.
Heading into the season after a thrilling win, Coach Perry warns, “these other teams better watch out.”