Norsemen rally late, fall at Fallbrook

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 9, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 5

FALLBROOK 35, VALHALLA 28

EastCountySports.com

FALLBROOK — For the Valhalla Norsemen, the 2025 season ended with heartbreak, but also a display of resilience and character that defined their year.

Traveling to face the sixth-seeded Fallbrook Warriors in the first round of the San Diego CIF Division 5 playoffs, Valhalla fought back from a large deficit in the second half, nearly completing a dramatic comeback before ultimately falling, 35-28.

It was a season that hinged on momentum and perseverance.

Just a week prior, Valhalla secured a last-ditch 28-0 upset at Santana, a win that not only capped their regular season on a high note but also boosted them right into the postseason. That victory gave the Norsemen a surge of confidence heading into Fallbrook — a team with a higher seed and the advantage of playing at home.

Valhalla opened the game with a statement.

On their first drive, senior Liam Hypes powered through the Fallbrook defense for a 51-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Norsemen an early 7-0 lead.

Quarterback Jackson Newman then led a methodical drive, capped by a 19-yard QB keeper that set up a field goal attempt. But the Warriors blocked the kick, and Fallbrook’s Kendahl Collings scooped it up, returning it for a touchdown in a pivotal swing that foreshadowed the challenges to come.

Fallbrook capitalized on the momentum.

Harrison Jones orchestrated two first-half scoring drives, including a 63-yard touchdown connection with Carter Sanchez, to take a commanding 21-7 lead into the break. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors’ balance of passing and rushing had pushed the lead to 35-7, seemingly putting the game out of reach.

But Valhalla refused to go quietly.

The Norsemen offense, led by Newman, erupted in the second half with three consecutive touchdowns.

Newman connected with Lorenzo Matos for a 45-yard score, then found Anderson Turner on another 45-yard strike.

A defensive turnover set up one final scoring drive, with Newman again finding Turner for a 29-yard touchdown. Valhalla closed the gap to 35-28, sending shockwaves through the home crowd and setting up a tense finish.

Despite their best efforts, the comeback fell just short. Fallbrook held on with a critical fourth-down stop, ending Valhalla’s season, but not without leaving an indelible mark.

The Norsemen defense, led by senior Brody Shartel’s 16 tackles and strong contributions from Giacomo Lupo and Ahmed Husaini, kept the team in the game when it mattered most.

Offensively, Newman showcased poise and playmaking ability, finishing the game with multiple touchdown passes and a key rushing score, while Hypes and Turner provided explosive plays that brought Valhalla within striking distance.

For Valhalla, the story of 2025 will be remembered not for the final loss but for the journey — overcoming injuries, adversity, and a 3-7 regular-season record to earn a playoff berth with a win at Santana.

Though their postseason run was cut short, the Norsemen’s heart, grit, and late-game heroics offered a glimpse of a program on the rise, and a team ready to build for the future.

As the players left the field, there was disappointment, yes, but also pride. For seniors like Shartel, Husaini, and Matos, and underclassmen who will return, the lessons from this season — resilience, perseverance, and belief — will linger long after the scoreboard has been cleared.