By Pete Borello

One would be hard pressed to find the highlight of Mountain View High’s 35-20 football win over Saratoga last Friday. There are almost too many to choose from.

It could be Tariq Bright’s 37-yard dash for the Spartans’ first touchdown. Or perhaps the reverse Jonathan Lam took 87 yards for a second-quarter TD.

Yet one also could make an argument for Sean Manson’s 26-yard scoring strike to Cody Himes as time ran out in the first half. And Guillermo Moreira’s 73-yard scamper in the third quarter certainly merits consideration as well.

Afterward, Mountain View coach Dan Navarro didn’t seem concerned about picking the play of the day; he was just relieved to get the win and go to 2-0.

“I was very nervous about this game; I have the utmost respect for the Saratoga program,” Navarro said. “I never thought we’d do this well. … But the kids hung in there and played tough.”

The host Spartans scored on their initial four possessions of the game, with two short field goals by Himes sandwiched in between long scoring runs from Bright and Lam.

Saratoga didn’t score until the 1:43 mark of the second quarter, as Shahab Vahabi’s 10-yard rush pulled his team within 20-6.

Mountain View, which fumbled on its next possession, responded just before halftime. The Spartans went 69 yards in 39 seconds, capping the drive with Manson’s precision pass to Himes, who sprung over two Falcons to get into the end zone.

“We ran four (receivers) into the seams,” Navarro said, “and Cody made a great move inside the safety and Sean threw a good pass.”

Manson, who completed 11-of-23 passes for 146 yards and a TD, said he received plenty of support from his teammates.

“The offensive line did a great job giving me time to throw,” the senior said, “and they opened up big holes for the running backs.”

The Spartans piled up 534 yards against Saratoga (1-1), most of them on the ground. Moreira, who took over at halfback in the second quarter when Bright suffered a knee injury, totaled 169 yards on 13 carries.

“We didn’t know if Guillermo would go because he had a sprained ankle, but he toughed it out all week in practice and came up big for us,” Manson said. “He had a great game.”

Manson also praised the performance of the Mountain View defense, which made four sacks - two by Danny Croom - and forced two turnovers.

Mountain View faces another upper-division opponent, Palo Alto, on Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.