Samo football kicks-off with a historic start to the season
Despite all of the doubters from last year’s 2-8 campaign and despite losing 14 players to last year’s graduating class, this year’s iteration of Samo varsity football is nothing like past Vikings teams. They have established a winning culture and are taking the community and the Bay League by storm.
The Vikings are off to a strong start to their season at 6-1, which is the best start Samo has had since their 3-0 start in 2011. So far this season, Samo has beat en Calabasas, El Segundo, West Torrance, Sylmar, Hueneme, and Peninsula while accumulating a point differential of +75 thanks to their potent offense and suffocating defense. Much of the credit for this year’s success goes to Head Coach Carter Paysinger, who has established a winning culture both on and off the field. “We expect to be a playoff team, and do really well in both the preseason and in our league season,” Paysinger said. “This year we’ve had a full off-season [and] worked hard… We’re in a completely different spot than we were a year ago.”
Manny Lopez / The Samohi
Quarterback Wyatt Brown (’26) sends a pass in Samo’s game versus El Segundo High School on Aug. 25. Samo won 36-20.
As of Oct. 8, Samo’s defense has only given up 110 points on the year, largely due to the constant pressure generated by their front seven. Linebacker/running back Caden McCallum (’24) is the team’s leading tackler averaging 6.3 tackles per game, defensive end Jayden Montanez (’24) has registered 2.5 sacks so far this season and strong safety Charles Cravings (’25) has made his mark in the secondary with seven interceptions. The offense hasn’t been kept out of the party either. McCallum has amassed 113 rushing yards per game and 12 touchdowns on the season and wide receiver Griffin Seals (’24) is delivering standout performances every week while averaging 95 yards per game. Paysinger comments on the team’s leaders this year and how they’ve adapted to their respective roles. “Sophomores and juniors that played varsity last year are falling right into those [leadership] roles,” Coach Paysinger said. “Many of those guys were leaders last year, so it’s been an easy transition for them this year.”
Samo has been able to overcome adversity all season long. From the relentless trash talk of other high schools on social media to being 40-point underdogs going into their first game against Calabasas, they have proven that this is an entirely different team while acquiring the nickname “Newmohi” in the process. It is a testament to the coaching staff and their relationships with the leaders of the Vikings. Seals gave his thoughts on the season so far to the Samo Sports Blog after the Vikings’ win over El Segundo. “We’re really happy that we’re doing well so far, but just like Kobe said, the job’s not finished,” Seals said. “We just gotta keep going, we gotta keep pushing, gotta get better every day and every week and we gotta play the opponent regardless of who it is.” “Sophomores and Juniors that played varsity last year are falling right into those roles,” Coach Paysinger said. “And many of those guys were leaders last year, so it’s been an easy transition for them this year.”
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