The varsity football team capped off a historic regular season this year with a 41-21 win over the Oakmont Vikings. The boys finished 9-1, a record that holds much significance in Roseville High School football history. Going into the season, this team was expected to be good, but not this good. Heading into tonight’s postseason matchup against the Vacaville Bulldogs, here are three facts that you probably did not know about this year’s varsity football team:

IN THE UPPER ECHELON OF HISTORIC FOOTBALL RECORDS

The 2016 varsity football team’s record is right up there with possibly the greatest football team RHS has ever seen. In 1990, senior Teddy Brushci, (3-time Super Bowl champion) led his team of Tigers to a 9-1 finish in the regular season. That team went on to win two playoff games before losing to end their season at a final mark of 11-2. If this year’s team can win at least two playoff games, they will be in the debate for one of the best football teams that the school has ever seen. For now, they are on track, regular season wise, with that historic 1990 team.

BEST DEFENSE IN THE CVC

So far, the boys have got it done on the defensive side of the ball. They were able to stay in many of their games because of their league-best defense. The secondary was personified by wins over Bella Vista, (55-0), and Whitney, (35-14). The matchup against the Whitney Wildcats was a testament to their solid defense as Whitney came into the game averaging 342.6 receiving yards per game and 118.3 rushing yards per game and were held to 307 receiving yards and 60 rushing yards. These are statistics from one game, so if you are still not impressed, let the Capital Valley Conference league stats speak for themselves. Out of all eight CVC teams, the Tigers’ defense allowed the least amount of points (139 in league play). In overall play, the defense also ranked first in points allowed, with 168, which was far off of the second-best Antelope Titan defense which allowed 204.

A 9-1 RECORD IS THE NORM

Every time the Class of 2017 has been the dominant class on the football team, (all years except 2015 when the boys were juniors playing on varsity), the boys have gone 9-1 during the regular season. In 2013, as freshmen, they finished 9-1 with their only loss coming on the road to the Del Oro Eagles. In 2014, as sophomores on the JV team, they finished 9-1 with their only loss at home to the Cosumnes Oaks Wolfpack. Over the years the Class of 2017 has propelled their respective football team to success and it has shown this year with 27 seniors leading the varsity team.