BENICIA HIGH’S defense will be tested Friday night against Vanden.

Benicia High’s varsity football team faces its most important challenge of the season when the Panthers take on the Vanden Vikings on Friday night in Fairfield.

The Vikings (4-3, 2-0 Solano County Athletic Conference) beat American Canyon last week to pull into a tie for first place with Bethel (4-3, 2-0 SCAC). Vanden’s win also opened the door for the Panthers (3-4, 1-1 SCAC), who can still share a SCAC championship if they win their final three games.

“That win by Vanden got us back in this race and created a lot of excitement for us,” said Benicia head coach Craig Holden. “Now we have a shot at playing for the league championship.”

On paper, it would seem the erratic Panthers don’t have a chance against the Vikings. American Canyon (5-2, 1-1 SCAC) – which lost to Vanden on a last-second field goal – clobbered Benicia 63-21 two weeks ago, handing the Panthers their worst loss in eight years. If the Panthers couldn’t handle the Wolves, how will they beat a Vanden team that not only beat American Canyon but has beaten Benicia in 4-of-5 meetings in Fairfield?

“Last time we played an upper-echelon team, we didn’t play well at all,” Holden noted. “Obviously Vanden is a team that beat American Canyon so we need to make sure we come in with better focus and execution. It’s seems like Vanden, American Canyon and Benicia are always beating each other up. It’s a cycle where anything can happen.”

Benicia’s offensive line will have to contend with a Vanden defense that is averaging 4 1/2 sacks per game. Senior outside linebacker Jake Lagrand has six sacks while teammates Armon Bailey and Jermaine Alvarado have five each. Vanden’s defense has recovered 12 fumbles in seven games and Bailey has three of the team’s eight interceptions.

“Vanden has a good defense and they keep them in games,” Holden said. “And the same athletes that play defense also play offense. They played well last week and American Canyon didn’t.”

The Panthers will be without middle linebacker Koe Alava for a second straight week. Senior Kyani McFall, who is second on the team in receptions and receiving yards, is also expected to miss Friday’s game.

The Panthers are coming off their most complete victory of the season – a 35-6 pounding of host Vallejo in Benicia’s Homecoming Game last Friday. Cavon Etter scored three touchdowns and set a team season high with 128 yards rushing on only seven carries. Devin Holden threw TD passes to three different receivers and Benicia’s defense held an opponent under 14 points for only the second time all year.

“We were able to do a lot of good things offensively and defensively,” coach Holden said of the Vallejo win. “Now we need to take the next step and do that again. It’s one thing to do it against Vallejo. We need to do it against Vanden.”

More than just a possible SCAC championship is on the line for the Panthers. A Vanden win Friday would effectively end Benicia’s chances for a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth. The Panthers haven’t missed the postseason since 2008.

“We have to hold on to the ball and not commit a lot of penalties,” coach Holden said. “If we do that, good things can happen. Our spirits are high.”

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