Against the backdrop of a stadium newly packed with Whitman community members decked out in blue, the football team (0–2) suffered a tough 42–8 loss to the Walter Johnson Wildcats (2–0) Friday in their first season home opener in two years.

From the first snap, the Vikes seemed to be off their game. Their lack of numbers and bench depth impaired their ability to properly contain the Wildcats’ defense and to play effective offense. 

Offensively, the Vikes were almost solely reliant on quarterback Matt Olevsky running the ball, throwing the ball fewer than five times. 

By halftime, they were losing 42–0, but pushed back to outscore the Wildcats 8–0 in the second half. 

The football team’s lack of success didn’t dampen the boisterous mood in the stands. Students, staff and parents went particularly wild after the Vikes managed to score points in the second half, but they also cheered on the marching band, the Poms team and the cheerleaders for the first time in two years.

The Vikes hope to put a tally in the win column next Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Albert Einstein High School.