On October 17th, 2025, the Yorba Linda football team returned to their home stadium to bounce back from the previous week’s loss against San Juan Hills. Going against Tesoro High School, the Mustangs took home a 42-14 win. They demonstrated a strong team bond and determination, a reflection of all their hard work from the summer up to now. Not only was this an important league game, but it was also Yorba Linda High School’s homecoming game.
Yorba Linda’s school spirit was high entering the game, with the talented band and choir performing the national anthem to kick it off. Additionally, the student section was decked out in green, brown, camo, and animal prints to match the chosen theme: Welcome to the Jungle. As the students cheered on the team, they also waited in anticipation for halftime, where the homecoming queen was revealed.
With Tesoro winning the coin toss, the Mustangs started the game receiving the ball. They immediately started guns blazing, with Noah Trujillo, #26, hitting Troy Roberts, #47, for a big thirty-yard reception. The team finished the drive with another pass to Roberts, this time in the endzone for a touchdown, and Bostyn Wilson, #36, kicked the ball straight down the field goal post for the extra point. While on defense, defensive end Blake Thorp, #84, immediately got to work with a sack on the quarterback. This crowned Blake the new all-time sack record holder in Yorba Linda history, with twenty-three career sacks.
In achieving this new record, Blake Thorp (12) said, “I knew going into this game that I was going to break the record. I already tied the record, and I just had a feeling that this was going to be the game where it would happen. After I finally got it, the feeling was amazing. Every practice, lift, and day of conditioning led to that moment, which I will never forget.”
Closing out the quarter, the Mustangs gained possession of the ball back and drove up the field, completing passes and runs. Finishing with a two-yard rushing touchdown for Isaiah Trujillo, #30, the quarter ended with the Mustangs up 14-0 over Tesoro.
Starting the second quarter strong, the Mustangs held the Titans and forced them to punt. On the first play, this time, it was Colin O’Connor, #13, finding a wide-open Caleb Zamora, #18, for a seventy-five-yard touchdown pass. On defense, the Mustangs continued to give Tesoro offensive issues. After going for it on fourth down, it was Thorp who found the quarterback yet again for another sack, extending his record to twenty-four.
While on offense, O’Connor found Michael Saucedo, #80, for another big chunk play for about forty yards. Then, the next play is Vaughn Sharp, #35, finishing the drive with a twenty-yard run to the endzone for a touchdown. After another stop on defense, the Mustangs got the ball back and made their way down the field, this time finishing with Aiden Gutierrez, #22, performing a one-yard run for the touchdown. The Mustangs entered halftime shutting the Titans out with a score of 35-0.
Being the homecoming game, halftime started with the homecoming court walking up to the stage, as well as the queen announcement. As a recap, the freshman princess and prince were Macy Davis and Luke Drascich, the sophomore royalty were Isabella Schlentz and Nathaniel Crook, and the junior princess and prince were Paloma Ortega and Nick Hunt.
The senior court included Aditya Bhagat, Lance Low, Lorenzo Desanctis, Michael Saucedo, Chase Sparks, Kate Sawaya, McKenzi Reiter, Rebecca Wilson, Chelsey Natividad, and Skylar Snyder. Friends and family escorted each member, with information about their favorite sayings and fun facts being said in the background. When it came time to declare the homecoming queen, each of the five girls on the senior court was brought to the center stage. Given a confetti popper and a count of three, the nominees twisted their device. Blue was the winning color, and the title of homecoming queen was given to Skylar Snyder.
After the excitement of the homecoming announcement, the band and guard took the field to perform their mashup of songs from “The Greatest Showman.” A few of the songs they played were “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Never Enough,” and “This is Me.”
Conner Hearron (12), the drum major for band and guard, commented, “Being able to conduct the band, whether up in the stands supporting our football team, or leading them through the field show, is one of the greatest moments. Having the opportunity to perform under the lights and in front of the school, while stressful, is something I wish everyone could experience, as I believe it to be one of the best feelings someone could ever ask for.” With halftime wrapping up, the Mustangs made their way to the field, ready to begin the second half.
The third quarter began with Yorba Linda kicking off to Tesoro. Again, the defense held strong, stopping the Titans and getting the three-and-out. The offense started slowly in the second half, trying to find its footing. Down on the fifty with a fourth and long, the Mustangs decided to go for the long ball, and it quickly paid off with Noah Trujillo finding his receiver, Charlie Bell, #16, with a significant catch for twenty yards and a first down.
After a costly penalty for Tesoro, the Mustangs found themselves in the end zone again. This time, a handoff to Clark Smolski, #31, with him finding the outside and reaching in, secured the sixth touchdown of the night. Now, with most of the Yorba Linda starters out, Tesoro’s offense began to get comfortable. After a long drive, the Titans scored with a read option, leading to the quarterback rushing into the endzone. With the score picking up, the quarter ended 42-7, with Yorba Linda winning.
During the final quarter, both teams began to lull in their offensive opportunities, leading to a stalemate. That was until late into the fourth, when the Titans’ quarterback found a receiver on a slant route, the receiver running into the endzone for their second touchdown of the night. With little time left, the Mustangs ran the ball to burn the remaining clock, ending victorious with a final score of 42-14.
As the football season nears its end, the Mustangs will continue to push through and take home more wins. Overall, the boys are 6-2 in the season and 2-1 in the Bravo league. As for their standing, the Mustangs are currently 435th place in Nationals, 43rd in California, 25th in the Southern Section, 11th in the Southern Section Division 2, and 25th in the Los Angeles Metro.
Students and players left the stadium buzzing with excitement—celebrating both the team’s success and the anticipation of the upcoming Homecoming dance on October 18th. With this win against Tesoro under their belt, the Mustangs plan to carry their momentum and energy into their final games of the season before entering CIF.
