By Craig Wentz

Town Crier Correspondent

Prep Football Digest

The Mountain View High football team has effectively utilized its potent offense to jump out to its best start in years. Last Friday night, the Spartans’ defense and special teams came up big to help the team remain unbeaten in SCVAL El Camino Division play.

Mountain View (2-0, 4-1) blocked two punts, forced three fumbles and picked off a pass in a key 17-12 triumph over host Fremont (1-1, 2-3) in Sunnyvale.

Mountain View led 7-6 after one quarter, scoring when Jordan Nelson returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown on Fremont’s first series. Nelson, Lewis Hall and Guillermo Moreira were all in on the blocked kick.

The Spartans headed to the locker room at the half with a 10-6 advantage following a 25-yard field goal from Hal Ellison. The field goal was set up on a fumble recovery by the Spartans’ Shonte Jiz de Ortega at the Fremont 9-yard line.

The Spartans opened the third quarter with an impressive drive capped by Nelson’s 4-yard touchdown run for a 17-6 lead.

After Fremont returned an interception for a score in the fourth quarter, the Spartans’ defense held strong in preserving the win.

Trevor Hooper led Mountain View’s ground game with 66 yards on 14 carries, while Nelson gained 48 yards on eight tries.

Mountain View plays rival Los Altos at 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Foothill.

Homestead 32, Los Altos 0

Homestead (1-1, 2-3) showed no mercy on Los Altos’ homecoming last Friday, shutting out the Eagles in an SCVAL El Camino Division matchup at Foothill College.

Los Altos (0-2, 0-4) remained winless with the setback and has been outscored 119-17 in its four losses.

Homestead leaped out to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter, thanks to a Steven Nichols 43-yard scoring run and a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Dougherty to receiver Garren Strong. The Mustangs extended the margin to 26-0 by halftime, courtesy of a Brian McGee 15-yard scoring run and a Brian Maiack 55-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Dougherty found Strong on a 52-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter to end the night’s scoring.

Dougherty completed 4 of 7 passes for 111 yards, while Nichols paced the ground game with 73 yards on 12 carries.

Up next for Homestead is a date at Fremont (Sunnyvale) at 7:30 p.m., Friday.

Los Gatos 56, Gunn 7

Gunn (0-1, 2-3) was rudely welcomed to the SCVAL De Anza Division last Friday, getting whipped by visiting Los Gatos (2-0, 5-0).

Los Gatos, ranked fourth in the Central Coast Section, wasted no time putting points on the scoreboard by taking a quick 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Wildcats added four touchdowns in the second quarter for a commanding 49-0 halftime lead.

Gunn, promoted to the De Anza Division this year, tallied its lone points on Doug Campbell’s 83-yard touchdown pass from Phil Ghilarducci .

The Titans play at Milpitas at 7:30 p.m., Friday.