Piedmont High School’s boys football team used a big second half to earn a 35-20 victory over Arroyo at Witter Field on Oct. 9. The Highlanders outscored the Dons 21-6 in the second half, opening West Alameda County Conference Mission division play with their first win after a stretch of close losses. Piedmont is 2-4 overall.
The Highlanders entered halftime tied 14-14 before pulling away in the second half. Head coach Jordan Seiden said the team improved its tackling and ability to finish plays after the break.
“Boys came out and played hard in the second half,” Seiden said. “Kind of started to figure things out.”
Quarterback Cyrus Emanuelson completed 11 passes for 134 yards, while running back Rehan Mumtaz carried the ball 17 times for 97 yards. Mumtaz returned to the team after missing multiple games, providing a boost to the Highlanders offense.
Several other players also contributed to the victory, including Vaha Mafi with two touchdowns for the Highlanders and Mumtaz, Mateo Long, and Henry Brennan with one each. Mason Grey also made a key defensive play in the third quarter by forcing a fumble for a Piedmont recovery.
The win was especially significant after Piedmont had struggled to close out several close games in recent weeks. Seiden said the team had opportunities in those losses but was pleased to see the Highlanders finish against Arroyo.
Seiden praised the team’s collective effort but emphasized that the team is young and is still developing together.
“We’re just so young,” Seiden said. “All this is us just growing up together right now.”
Despite the important league victory, Seiden said the Highlanders need to continue to improve their composure. Sideline incidents resulted in penalties and player ejections, which he attributed to the team’s difficulty managing emotions in intense moments.
“Bad things tend to happen when you get too emotional,” Seiden said.
The victory gives Piedmont momentum heading into their second league game, Oct. 16 at Castro Valley at 7 p.m.