By Craig Wentz
Town Crier Correspondent
Prep Football Digest
he Mountain View High football team is a different unit from a season ago, with added experience, confidence and personnel. Last Saturday, the Spartans gave the SCVAL El Camino Division notice that they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Behind a balanced offense and the legs of senior halfback Jordan Nelson, Mountain View (2-0) remained unbeaten by outlasting host Saratoga 35-28 in a non-league contest.
Nelson paved the way for the Spartans by rushing for 200 yards on 13 carries (15.3 yards per attempt) and scoring two touchdowns against Saratoga (1-1), which plays in the upper SCVAL De Anza Division.
Nelson, who missed last season with a knee injury, tallied Mountain View’s first touchdown on a 90-yard dash on the second play of the game and added a 60-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. With the help of running mate Trevor Hooper and junior quarterback Sean Manson, the Spartans kept the Falcons’ defense off balance all day.
Hooper ran for a 3-yard score and caught an 81-yard touchdown pass. The senior rushed for 49 yards and hauled in five passes for 118 yards. Manson completed 8 of 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartans also made the big plays on defense, recovering four fumbles. Safety Guillermo Moreira recovered three fumbles, returning one for an 84-yard touchdown.
The Spartans play at Palo Alto (2-0) Friday in a non-league game at 3:15 p.m.
Cupertino 28, Gunn 21
Gunn (1-1) suffered its first defeat of the season Saturday in a frustrating non-league loss at Cupertino.
Gunn had a chance to tie the Pioneers at 28-all but lost a fumble on a second-and-goal at the Cupertino 6-yard line late in the game.
Senior halfback Joe Lawrence had a hand in all three Gunn touchdowns: scoring on a 71-yard run; an 86-yard kickoff return; and tossing a 71-yard pass to Phil Ghilarducci.
The Titans’ rush defense, which had holes in their 21-7 season opening win over Los Altos, yielded more than 200 yards.
Gunn hosts Lynbrook at 3:15 p.m., Friday
Homestead 40, Harker 14
Homestead had little trouble vs. Harker in a non-league game Friday at Fremont High.
The Mustangs rolled to a 21-0 halftime lead on outmanned Harker and increased the margin to 34-6 after three quarters.
Running back Will Faules led the way for the Mustangs by rushing for 157 yards on just eight carries (19.6 per carry) and scored on touchdown runs of 70, 44 and 15 yards.
Homestead quarterback Brandon Dougherty completed 4 of 7 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Homestead (1-1) hosts Wilcox in a 3 p.m. non-league game this Thursday.
Los Altos game canceled
Despite the terrorist attacks on the East Coast Sept. 11, most Central Coast Section football games were played last weekend.
Los Altos High, however, had its game at Independence canceled for another reason.
A large-scale altercation broke out near the grounds of Independence after school Friday and an Independence football player suffered a five-inch gash on his forearm after being cut by a machete. San Jose police said that as many as 30 juveniles and young adults were involved in the fight armed with bats, poles, crowbars and machetes.
The game, canceled for safety concerns, is not likely to be rescheduled.
Los Altos (0-1) hosts Milpitas (1-1) at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, in a non-league game.
