- The Vikings looked good in all three phases of the game, scoring 28 points, shutting down the Thunder offense and blocking two punts.
- The Vikings have now won their last six games dating back to last season.
- The Thunder are still looking for their first win in 2026.
The Johansen Vikings came to Atwater on Friday night to compete against Buhach Colony as the Thunder played their first ever home football game at the Buhach school campus. The bright lights helped create a new scene and energy for Buhach Colony. As the student section filled the stands and the band tuned their instruments before kickoff, the feeling of a new tradition beginning settled on the stadium as the football team began its first home game at the Buhach campus since the school opened in 2001.
The first quarter started with Buhach Colony kicking off. The Thunder attempted an onside kick to begin the game, but the Vikings were all over it. Johansen took over from midfield, but Buhach Colony’s defense kept the Vikings from getting too far down the field on their opening drive. Midway through the quarter, a pass from Johansen quarterback AJ Banuelos was intercepted by Buhach Colony’s Anderson Soren, stealing the momentum and giving the Thunder a quick chance at taking the lead. The Thunder moved toward the end zone, but could not finish the drive, turning the ball over on downs. Neither team was able to score before the quarter ended, leaving the game tied 0-0.
Johansen opened the second quarter by scoring within the first few seconds on a touchdown run from Jeydan Saing to take a 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter, the Vikings continued to find success through the air when Banuelos completed a couple short passes before dialing up a long pass to Joel Murillo, which put Johansen near the goal line. Banuelos continued his success, connecting with Jeydan Saing for another 4-yard touchdown. With the score 14-0, the Thunder needed a play to get back in the game, but Buhach Colony struggled to keep its drive going, and before the quarter ended, Johansen added another touchdown when Banuelos found Murillo for a 34-yard score. Buhach Colony went into halftime still looking for its first score of the night as the score read 21-0.
In the third quarter, the Colony opened the half with their strongest drive of the game. Isaiah Williams broke off a long run that took the Thunder into Johansen territory and eventually down to the 1-yard line. Jonathan Deloa finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving Buhach Colony its first points in the new stadium. The Thunder then went for two, making the score 21-8. However, the momentum didn’t last long after Johansen answered with another long drive of its own. Matthew Thomas broke off two big runs, including one that put the Vikings inside the Buhach Colony 20-yard line, before scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run. The extra point made it 28-8 closing out the quarter.
The fourth quarter was mostly a defensive battle as Buhach Colony tried to find a way back into the game. Johansen opened the quarter with an interception by Joel Murillo and continued moving the ball with passes from Banuelos to Mathayus Looney Napper. The Vikings eventually turned the ball over on downs, giving the Thunder possession with about seven minutes left. Buhach Colony moved the ball down the field before throwing an interception to Johansen’s Wilson Lee with about five minutes remaining. The Vikings then took control of the clock and concluded the game 28-8.
After the game, Johansen defensive back and receiver Joel Murillo said the team’s goal was to keep its undefeated record intact while continuing to work toward all-league honors. “We wanted to stay undefeated,” Mota said. “We’re trying to make a push for all-league.” Mota also said the Vikings know they still have areas to improve, especially on offense. “We need to score more and keep getting better on offense,” he said. “This win gives us something to build on before league play.”
The win moves Johansen to 2-0 on the season. The Vikings will travel to East Union on Friday, September 11, to face the 1-0 Lancers. Last season the Lancers defeated the Vikings by a score of 53-12.
Buhach Colony falls to 0-2 and will return home next Friday to face Enochs High, who also enters the game at 0-2. The game will give Buhach another chance to nab its first win in its new stadium.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
