Although the McLean High School football team lost to Yorktown on Oct. 6, there was something different in this game compared to the others.

First there were two players who has scored their first points of season, showing an improvement in the team’s offensive scoring capability.

“It was nice to contribute to my team and to do it for my coach. It wasn’t really about me but I was doing it for my brothers,” said junior Mateus O’Bryan, a tight end who scored his first touchdown of the season.

The other player who scored his first points was senior running back Bryan Chung, who mentioned that the offense was able to be more physical in the second half. This change was clearly evident when the team was able to score 27 points in the second half, compared to their scoreless first half.

Another light that shined from the second half of the game was the improvement on the defensive side. Although they gave up a whopping 40 points in the first half, through re-adjustment from the coaches and player, McLean only gave up 14 points in the second half.

Chung attributed the low scoring second half to the defensive effort to stop Yorktown’s strong passing game. Though this does not erase the 40 point deficit the team suffered, the immense change gives a strong case for a win next game.

Even if the team were not able to defeat the 5-1 Yorktown team, the momentum emerging from the strong second half can lead them to a victory against the 2-4 Herndon team who happens to be suffering a four game losing streak.