By Pete Borello

The Mountain View High football team didn’t dominate the scoreboard as much as it did the stat sheet last Friday night against Los Altos.

Although the Spartans gained more than three times as many yards as their rivals, they prevailed only 28-14 at Foothill College.

That’s because Mountain View also dominated such dubious categories as penalties and turnovers.

“I think the kids were nervous because they wanted to win this one so badly,” said coach Dan Navarro, whose team improved to 2-0 in the SCVAL El Camino Division, 5-1 overall. “They played really sloppy.”

The Spartans made 11 penalties and lost three fumbles, two inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line.

Yet the miscues didn’t prove costly against hapless Los Altos (0-3, 0-4), a team struggling to put up points. The Eagles, who have been shut out twice this season, mustered only 112 yards of offense and four first downs.

Mountain View, meanwhile, piled up 361 yards and picked up 20 first downs. The Spartans overwhelmed the Eagles with a ground game that churned out 332 yards on 46 tries (a robust 7.2-yards-per-carry average).

“Our defense wore down against a pounding offense,” Los Altos coach Ken Green said. “Mountain View has two very good backs and they controlled the line of scrimmage.”

Running mates Jordan Nelson and Trevor Hooper took turns puncturing holes in the Eagles’ run defense, often sprinting around or fighting through defenders for big gains. Nelson carried 22 times for 179 yards and a touchdown, while Hooper had 21 rushes for 145 yards and a pair of scores.

Hooper also scored on a 26-yard screen pass from Sean Manson that allowed Mountain View to enter the half up 14-7.

The Spartans started to run away with the game, literally, in the second half.

Hooper scampered for 41 yards on Mountain View’s initial play of the half and Nelson reached the end zone two plays later on a 7-yard burst, dragging a defender along with him. Hal Ellison’s extra point provided the Spartans with a 21-7 lead.

Danny Croom’s sack of Sean Girouard put the kibosh on the Eagles’ next drive and Mountain View took over at its own 19.

The Spartans then went on a 16-play drive spanning more than eight minutes, capped by Hooper’s 4-yard touchdown run.

Mountain View’s next two drives ended with fumbles: Nelson was stripped by defense back Royce Hurd at the Los Altos 19; and Hooper lost the ball just before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback.

It took Los Altos only two plays to take advantage of Hooper’s turnover, with Girouard sailing a 65-yard scoring toss to halfback Thomas Roux.

Roux also accounted for the Eagles’ other touchdown, barreling up the middle on a 9-yard run in the first quarter.

Los Altos plays undefeated Los Gatos at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, while Mountain View visits Cupertino at 1 p.m., Saturday.