By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
The target was placed on their backs seconds after claiming the Central Coast Section's Open School Division football championship.
None of their CCS rivals care that Palo Alto was the only team from the section to advance to the Division II state title game. There is little pity that the Vikings suffered the same fate as the other two NorCal champions did in their state title games in Carson last December, as Palo Alto was dispatched by its Southern California opponent, Orange Lutheran.
All that any of the CCS teams know, and care about, going into this fall's season is that Palo Alto is the defending section champions and they all want that title for themselves this year. Vikings head coach Earl Hansen knows that means everyone on the Vikings' schedule this fall will be gunning for his team.
"Everyone is going to try to prove they are better than us," Hansen said. "We know we will have to play even better than we did last year."
There will be many familiar faces lining up to attempt to take away the Vikings' throne, beginning with the three teams Palo Alto defeated in the playoffs en route to their 42-28 loss to Lutheran in the title game.
The Vikings slipped past Aragon, 23-21, in the first round of the section playoffs before outlasting Palma, 41-38, in four overtimes in the semifinals. Palo Alto then defeated Oak Grove, 23-21, to claim the section crown.
Hansen knows all three teams will be a force again this year with Aragon probably posing the greatest threat.
"They (Aragon) have everyone coming back this year," Hansen pointed out. "They are loaded and they are going to be very tough."
But playing tough games is nothing new to the Vikings.
"Every (playoff) game was tough last year," Hansen said. "We just stepped up our game, up until the title game."
Still, the Vikings will have a rough road to navigate as they begin their section title defense.
Palo Alto will open the season Sept. 7 at McClymonds before hosting Burlingame and then bracing for a rematch at home against Oak Grove. The Vikings will then begin De Anza league play on Sept. 28th at home against Los Gatos.
"Oak Grove and Los Gatos are going to be tough games," Hansen said. "Our entire league is always tough.
"We've just got to get past the first game," Hansen added. "That is what we did so well last year. We did not look past the next game on our schedule."
Still, the Vikings are the section champions at least until November and will remain so until they are eliminated from postseason play this fall. Hansen expects his team to defend its title with everything it has.
"We will be competitive," Hansen said. "We will see what happens."
If Palo Alto is to repeat last year's title run, they will have to overcome some key losses to graduation from its 2006 roster.
Quarterback Nick Goodspeed and the entire offensive line are gone, leaving 6-3 junior Will Brandin to step in and take over the signal-calling for the Vikings this year, with 6-2 senior left tackle Mike Anderson expected to anchor Palo Alto's brand new line this season.
Fullback Sione Mataele (6-0, 260) returns to power the Viking running game in his senior season and WR Mike Scott (6-0, 170) will lead the receiving corps.
"Of course we have concerns at some positions," Hansen said. "But we have some very good players and (Brandin) did very well in our seven-on-seven drills."
Like Palo Alto, Oak Grove will have to overcome the loss of key players, including QB Kevin Vye and WR Larry Lacotti. But the Eagles return RB Nevin Gardiner, who rushed for over 2,000 yards in his junior year, and strong safety Mike Estrada, who led the team with 115 tackles in his junior year.
Aragon will return QB Alex Miller and RB Seta Pohahau to lead the Dons' offensive attack in the Peninsula Bay League after an 8-3 season last year and is expected to advance deeper into the postseason this fall.
In the southern part of the section, Palma is expected to challenge for the section crown once again coming out of the Tri-County League. The Chieftains will receive an early test Sept. 22nd when they travel to De La Salle.
As exciting as the final weeks of the 2006 season were in the CCS, 2007 looks to be even more so as everyone sets their sights on the section crown and the one team that currently sits on the throne.