It’s over.

The Vikings allowed only seven points during the final 19 minutes of the Nov. 14 game against the San Mateo Bulldogs, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a season-ending 42-23 defeat. Offensively, DVC couldn’t get anything going and were shut out in the second half by the No. 10 defense in Northern California.

“There were no surprises; we just didn’t execute like we should have,” said wide receiver John Hendershott. “They played a prevent-style defense… and we just didn’t connect on the underneath stuff during the second half.”

DVC ended the season with seven straight loses, finishing 0-5 in the NorCal conference.

This was the Vikings’ best opportunity to pick up their first conference win, since San Mateo entering the game with an identical 0-4 conference record and a 4-5 record overall.

But it was a tale of two completely different games, the first half containing explosive offenses, each team exchanging scores early on, and the second half containing only one touchdown between the two teams.

“[Getting shut out] is something that doesn’t happen to us,” said head coach Mike Darr. “The offense still moved the ball pretty well; we just couldn’t punch it in.”

DVC fell behind early and was down 28-13 going into the second quarter, a deficit from which it never recovered.

Redzone chances were few for the Vikes and with a chance late in the second, quarterback Kyle Havens threw an interception to end their drive with no points.

With Vikings’ defense struggling to slow the Bulldogs down, they opted to go for it on a 4th down and converted a 34-yard pass to wide receiver Kava Tyrell.

The catch set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to WR Jared Richard, a San Mateo transfer who had only caught three passes the entire year. It cut the San Mateo lead to 28-20.

After the kickoff on the first play from scrimmage, the Bulldogs’ running back was met at the line of scrimmage and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by DVC on its own 41-yard line.

The Vikings were able to move it down the field but, with 40 seconds remaining in the half, settled for a field goal to trim the lead to 28-23.

However on the ensuing kickoff, San Mateo’s special teams generated a huge return before finally being brought down inside DVC territory.

Given the great field position, the Bulldogs searched their bag of tricks and pulled out a running-back pass to the quarterback for a touchdown with only 14 seconds remaining and extended their lead 35-23.

The loss ended DVC’s season as they don’t have enough wins to qualify for a bowl game.

The season had started with much promise.

After falling to Sierra in their first game, the Vikings regrouped to beat district rivals Contra Costa and Los Medanos by a combined score of 128-40.

However, they followed up those games with tough loses against West Hills and Reedley.

The Vikings then went winless in five conference games to finish the season a disappointing 2-8.

Darr said the team battled every game.

“Every single game in this conference,” he said, “we were within 10 points going into the fourth quarter.”

Added Hendershott, “We had the potential to win more games but it just so happens we didn’t. And it is what it is, really.”