By Pete Borello

If you think the Mountain View High football team is dangerous now, just imagine how good the offense will be when its starting receivers return to the lineup.

“We’re the most diversified team (in the division) when we’re healthy,” coach Dan Navarro said.

The Spartans, who have been playing without injured receivers Ryan Wilcox and Keith Wieland all season, improved to 3-1 last Friday with a 34-13 non-league rout of Gunn.

Mountain View, which is averaging 300 yards of offense per game, has been winning on the strength of its running game. The Spartans may have the best one-two punch in the SCVAL El Camino Division in Trevor Hooper and J.D. Nelson.

“Every time they get the ball, they can go all the way,” Navarro said.

That’s something Gunn (2-2) learned the hard way Friday at Foothill College, where seniors Hooper and Nelson both produced big runs for touchdowns.

Hooper scored on a 75-yard burst in the fourth quarter and finished with 169 yards on 14 carries. He also returned a kickoff 75 yards to set-up a score.

Nelson had touchdown runs of 17 and 24 yards in the first half and a 38-yarder in the game’s closing minutes. He finished with 145 yards on 11 attempts.

The Spartans’ other touchdown came on a 2-yard keeper by quarterback Sean Manson late in the second quarter to give Mountain View a 21-6 lead. Manson, a junior, completed 7 of his 12 passes for 75 yards.

Navarro said he expects the Spartans to become more balanced offensively when Wilcox and Wieland are back on the field, which could happen in the next few weeks.

Mountain View opens SCVAL El Camino Division play at 7:30 p.m., Friday, in Sunnyvale against Fremont.

Gunn, which scored both its touchdowns on runs by halfback Matt McClendenan, begins SCVAL De Anza Division competition with a 3:15 p.m. home game Friday vs. powerful Los Gatos.