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With second quarter high school sports underway, the Harvest Eagles and Southern Dolphins faced off in an intense and physical match in the Interscholastic Boys Football League at Harvest’s field on Monday evening. It was the Dolphins’ season opener, while Harvest entered the game fresh off a win against Tiyan on Friday. Both talented teams pushed each other to the limit, battling to a 1–1 draw. There are no penalty kicks in the regular season. Senior Giacomo Bustamante scored in the first half for the Eagles off a corner kick, while sophomore Kekoa Quiambao responded for the Dolphins in the second half with a goal of his own. “Southern’s a pretty good team, they’re physical. They know what they’re doing, so we build off this game and we build toward our strengths… and focus on the next game,” Bustamante said. The Dolphins started the game with possession, but the Eagles quickly seized control. Harvest applied offensive pressure early, creating multiple scoring opportunities that were denied by Southern’s relentless defense. The Dolphins were pushed back on their heels for much of the opening minutes, forced to focus on protecting their goal. Whenever the Dolphins managed to move the ball upfield, Bustamante anchored the Eagles’ defense, repeatedly clearing the ball back to midfield. Despite being a defender, Bustamante capitalized on a corner kick opportunity. Off his teammate’s kick, Bustamante jumped up and directed the ball straight into the net. The Eagles rushed to celebrate as the spectators on the bench cheered in excitement. “I just picked a side and I knew I was going to score,” Bustamante said confidently. Both teams continued the first half with aggression, playing a physical game to battle for control. The Dolphins began to push offensively and generated a few close chances, but neither side managed to score before halftime which ended in favor of the Eagles, 1-0. Second half It was the Dolphins’ game in the second half as the team came out with renewed determination. The Dolphins found their rhythm and began to force the Eagles back on defense. Looking for an opportunity to score, the Dolphins pressed on with persistence and intensity. That opportunity soon came unexpectedly when Quiambao took possession of the ball far outside the penalty box. Despite the distance, Quiambao took a long shot with confidence and the ball soared right above the Harvest goalie, dropping into the net to tie the game 1-1. Southern supporters erupted in exhilaration as the players celebrated briefly before turning their focus back to the game. The game continued with players from both sides sprinting for every play in an effort to take the lead. Neither team was able to take complete control of the game, as the ball constantly went back and forth on the field. Both sides’ stamina and strength were tested as players continued to give their all. With less than 10 minutes left of the game, Harvest earned one last chance to take the game off a free kick after an aggressive collision. However, the Dolphins held firm, clearing the ball and preserving the draw. The hard fought match ended in a 1-1 tie. Looking ahead, Bustamante emphasized the teamwork needed to move forward in the season. “Once our boys get more chemistry and we learn how to play together more, we’re gonna be able to beat any team,” Bustamante added.
