The American Canyon Wolves celebrated Senior Night with a decisive victory over the Petaluma Trojans, winning 35-14 on October 20, 2023. The Wolves’ performance was highlighted by a strong defensive turnaround and impressive offensive plays that solidified their unbeaten record in the Vine Valley Athletic League.
After a slow start, American Canyon’s defense began to show its strength in the closing minutes of the first quarter. The turning point came when senior Cole Gholar intercepted a pass from Petaluma quarterback Aidan Wirtz. This pivotal moment ignited the Wolves, who did not allow another point until nearly five minutes remained in the game. Gholar explained, “We had to move the line over a little and make little adjustments just to make sure we were in the right gaps. Our fire was lit after that and we were ready to go out and make a play.”
The interception occurred shortly after Petaluma had taken an early lead with a touchdown from Brody Stevens, capping a 10-play drive characterized by running plays. Gholar’s interception came just two plays after American Canyon equalized the score with a stunning 73-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Kameron Hunter to Webster Burks. Burks commented, “Kameron told me ‘go deep, beat him outside’ and that’s exactly what I did. He threw me a perfect ball.”
American Canyon’s head coach, Marcellus Holmes, noted that despite the rocky start, the team remained focused on their game plan. “Michael Chisley had a great game plan with his triple-option offense. The big difference seemed to be us getting those three turnovers,” Holmes stated, emphasizing the importance of resilience and endurance, especially for the senior players.
As the game progressed, American Canyon’s running game gained momentum. Senior Andre Lopez rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries, while junior Isaac Anderson made a significant impact with 81 yards on just three carries, including a key 44-yard touchdown run that put the Wolves ahead 14-7. Holmes referred to Anderson as his “American Army Knife,” highlighting the player’s versatility.
The passing game also flourished, with Hunter throwing for a total of 196 yards and two touchdowns, both to Burks. The second touchdown came as time expired in the first half, extending the Wolves’ lead to 28-7. Coach Holmes praised Hunter’s development, saying, “He’s very coachable and mature for his age.”
American Canyon’s defense continued to pressure Petaluma, forcing another turnover with an interception by Jamar Choyce Jr.. Although the Wolves could not convert this turnover into points, they capitalized on a third takeaway when Chamari Urrutia recovered a fumble. This set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Marcus-jasiri Hughes, bringing the score to 35-7 with 8:05 left in the game.
Petaluma managed a late touchdown by Evan Clarke, who rushed for 169 yards on 34 carries, but it was not enough to change the outcome. Gholar reflected on the victory, stating, “It feels amazing to get this win on Senior Night. This year we made sure to come away with a win.”
With this win, the Wolves improved their record to 6-1 overall and remain undefeated at 3-0 in league play. They will look to maintain their momentum in their upcoming game against Napa.
