![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Excitement rings high as the days count down to the game that will crown the champion of the NFL. Fans gear up with friends to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle for the NFL title during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nev. on Feb. 11.
This year marks the Chiefs’ sixth trip to the Super Bowl and an opportunity to win their second consecutive championship. Clinching this victory would make the Chiefs the first team to defend their title since the New England Patriots in the 2003-2004 season.
Riding on the shoulders of a successful year, the Chiefs also led the American Football Conference – Western Division in wins. Their quarterback Patrick Mahomes boasts two NFL MVP awards, with his prior Super Bowl victory earning him the award for the 2022 season.
Despite the Chiefs’ reigning position, the 49ers’ stronger defensive line may give them the edge and help them win their sixth Super Bowl title. Longtime 49ers fan Daphne Avkarogullari (12) highlighted the Chiefs’ weakness down the sideline, which could prove crucial to turning the odds in San Francisco’s favor.
“I don’t think the Chiefs have a strong enough wide receiver to get enough momentum on offense,” Daphne said. “The reason the Lions were able to score on us is because they have a good run game. But Pacheco, the Chiefs’ running back, can only last so long. The Chiefs don’t have a stellar running game and our pass defense is definitely better than our run defense.”
With a 17-point second half comeback over the Detroit Lions, ultimately winning 34-31, the 49ers earned their place in the game under the leadership of new quarterback Brock Purdy. The last pick of the NFL draft in 2022, Purdy started off the season as the third quarterback but made a name for himself, even posting a perfect passer rating this year, following the injuries to both the Niners’ starting and backup quarterbacks.
The 49ers succumbed to the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football Conference Championship last year, losing out on the opportunity to compete in the Super Bowl. But this year’s win puts them one step closer to the title.
The biggest key to the game for the Chiefs is how their defensive line can get through and how they can shut down passing opportunities for Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel
— varsity football team member Oliver Roman (11)
As both teams prepare for this high-stakes matchup, the spotlight rests on key players performing at their peak.
“The run game for the 49ers will likely be the deciding factor whether it be Brock Purdy scrambling out of pocket or Christian McCaffrey breaking tackles,” varsity football team member Oliver Roman (11) said. “The biggest key to the game for the Chiefs is how their defensive line can get through and how they can shut down passing opportunities for Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.”
In recent years, the Chiefs and 49ers have built a fiercely competitive history. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-20 in the 2020 Super Bowl, with Mahomes as the Chiefs’ quarterback.
The Super Bowl marks the culmination of the adrenaline and excitement after the season’s games, remaining an important tradition in its 58th year. Not only can viewers follow their favorite teams throughout the year, they can also participate in activities such as fantasy football, bringing together enthusiastic communities and avid fans.
“The best part about the Super Bowl is getting together with your friends and talking football,” history teacher Jonathan Rim said. “I have a group of friends from college years, and we have a fantasy league of over 25 years, so it’s a way for us to stay connected on almost a daily basis.”
