A magical season for the Millikan Rams came to an end on Friday night, as the team that Moore League coaches predicted to finish last just kept on winning and earned a berth in the CIF PAC-5 playoffs, where they ran into a juggernaut and fell to the Edison Chargers by a score of 58-14.

The Chargers were visibly larger than the Rams at nearly every position, and utterly dominated the line of scrimmage, forcing Millikan into three fumbles and four interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns).

Edison scored on six of their first seven possessions, with first quarter touchdown drives of 6, 8 and 22 yards.

In contrast, five of Millikan’s first eight possessions resulted in turnovers. The other three were punts.

“We knew going in that we’d have to play near perfection,” said Millikan head coach Kirk Diego, following the loss.

Edison quarterback Matt Viles threw four touchdowns, but just 95 yards on 10-20 attempts because the Chargers typically didn’t have to go very far. Senior receiver Dylan Leneer had receiving touchdowns of 6 and 19 yards, while Wade Houston scored touchdowns on a 6-yard rush and a 50-yard interception return.

In an attempt to throw off the stingy Edison defense, Millikan shook things up by moving dynamic playmaker Alden Darby from quarterback to wide receiver for most of the game. After spending some of the season with the junior varsity, junior Christian Ybarra got the call at quarterback, throwing for a touchdown, three interceptions and 87 yards on 10-25 attempts.

Darby caught seven passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, but was otherwise limited from breaking one of his trademark electrifying plays. He threw twice for an incompletion and an interception, and carried the ball once for one yard.

The lefty Ybarra struggled to find a rhythm, which is understandable considering his first start came against one of the best defenses in the state. He was sacked seven times and threw two of his three interceptions by overthrowing crossing routes across the middle of the field.

Edison jumped out to a 42-0 lead in the second quarter, until senior Paul Slater – who began the season as Millikan’s starting quarterback, but dislocated his throwing shoulder in the opening game and has been relegated to the defense ever since – broke through the Chargers’ punt formation to block the kick, which fellow senior Silver Vaifanua scooped and returned 50 yards for a touchdown as the Ram fans roared.

It didn’t change the complexion of the game – the score was 42-7 – but was an inspirational spirit-booster from the two seniors, indicative of the never-say-die attitude that the Rams have embraced this season. Slater re-aggravated his shoulder injury during warm-ups, and played most of the game with his right arm dangling at his side. As Vaifanua ran for the score, Slater sat at midfield and kept that injured arm in the sky as he watched on. More than fifty Millikan players whooped it up on the sideline as if they had just taken the lead, injected with new confidence by their spiritual leader.

“They just keep on playing, don’t they?” coach Diego said of his players.

Millikan played with greater focus and intensity from that point on, tacking on another touchdown in the third quarter when Ybarra hit Darby on a 16-yard slant. Edison was just too much, though, and the Rams’ inspiring Cinderella season came to an end.

It was a difficult realization for many of the graduating seniors, who banded together this year to defy the odds and shock the Moore League. To honor them, the Rams conducted a traditional ceremony of lining up on the field as the seniors walked through them exchanging high-fives and hugs, reaching the coaching staff at the end and sharing plenty of laughs and tears.

“There’s something about the ‘last.’ That’s why we do this Walk of Fame. The last goodbye,” said coach Diego. “Especially those seniors, to see them go out and play for the last time – it was so special.”

The emotional ceremony brought the season to an end, but Diego explained that this year’s team will be forever bonded through the experiences they shared.

“It’s the joy of being around these guys for three or four years, and the sadness that on Monday I don’t get to coach them,” said Diego. “It’s joy, it’s sadness, but it’s an amazing thing. I’ve got the best job in America.”

As the senior procession continued through the row of sophomores and juniors issuing consoling words and hugs to departing seniors, the lights abruptly went out and LeBard Stadium at Orange Coast College fell dark.

Not one player moved a muscle, and the tears and the laughs and the memories continued in the dark.

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