"After the way we'd been playing I told them, 'I'm from Missouri--you gotta show me something,' " recalled Mueller, who really is not from the "Show Me State" in our nation's heartland.

The Matadors not only showed Mueller a few things, they proved plenty to the Vikings as well on Oct. 8 at Cupertino High. Monta Vista scored on its first two possessions, then erupted for 27 points in the second quarter en route to a 41-7 triumph.

"I was pleased with the kids' level of intensity," Mueller said after the Matadors evened their Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division record at 1-1. "They put together a solid 48 minutes and were physical throughout."

Shortly after Lynbrook fumbled away the opening kickoff, Monta Vista quarterback Jason Dias connected with Garrett McManus on a 16-yard scoring strike. Lynbrook had to punt on the next series, and Monta Vista quickly scored on Taylor Oberhelman's 4-yard run. Ben Lovelace's second of five PAT kicks gave the Matadors a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Josh Schroeder and Marcus Woo both had two touchdowns. Schroeder scored on a 17-yard pass from Dias and on a run from the 6-yard line. Woo ran four yards for one score and, after Lynbrook earned its only points, the speedy sophomore returned the ensuing kick 91 yards.

Dias' two touchdown passes raised his season total to seven. Interceptions by Oberhelman and Schroeder set up two of Monta Vista's touchdowns, but Mueller cited the play of the entire defensive unit.

"I was very pleased with the team defense all night," Mueller said. "The kids rallied to the ball well."

Mueller and his staff are looking for the Matadors to put together another "complete game" on Oct. 15 when they return to Cupertino to entertain Santa Clara. The Bruins are 0-1-1 in El Camino play after losing to Mountain View and tying Fremont 7-7.

Meanwhile, Lynbrook will travel to Palo Alto on Oct. 15, 3:15 p.m., for a non-league game at Gunn.

'Tino seeks league win

When Cupertino coach Al Diaz learned during the summer that his starting quarterback had elected to concentrate on another sport and that the back-up QB had moved to Gilroy, he decided to give two talented receivers a try.

Senior Justin Gauthier and junior Travis Scibetta have shared time as the Pioneers' signal-callers this season and are "going through growing pains and a learning process," Diaz explained after Cupertino dropped its league opener 34-7 to visiting Los Altos on Oct. 7.

But it was the two new QBs who hooked up for the Pioneers' only touchdown in the recent defeat, a 7-yard pass from Scibetta to Gauthier late in the game to prevent a shutout. The play culminated a quick 60-yard drive that took only 1:28 to negotiate as the clock was winding down in the fourth quarter.

The Pioneers will try to even their El Camino slate at 1-1 when they travel down the road to Fremont on Oct. 15 to play the Firebirds.

Scibetta completed five passes for 48 yards against Los Altos, but it was senior running back Bronson Farr who collected most of the Pioneers' 238 yards of total offense. Farr ran the ball 23 times for 141 yards. Asim Alam added 37 yards on six carries and Renato Linares gained 24 yards on eight tries.

Diaz applauded the defensive play of lineman Matt Ravadge, who made five solo tackles, including two for losses. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior also forced a fumble that was picked up by teammate Renato Sanchez.

Morris rolls, Mustangs fall

Chris Morris has always been a good running back, said Homestead coach Charlie Bostic, but in the last two games the powerful senior has taken his game to another level.

After scoring four touchdowns in the SCVAL De Anza Division opener against Gunn, Morris ran for 150 yards and the Mustangs' only touchdown in a disappointing 37-7 homecoming loss to Wilcox on Friday night at Diesner Field.

"In the last two games Chris has run the ball better than any back I've ever coached," Bostic explained. "He has run with talent and heart. Something has just clicked with him."

The efforts of Morris and nose guard Matt Diehl--in his first action after missing two games because of a shoulder injury--were bright spots for Homestead, which takes a 1-1 league record to Milpitas Friday night.

"We will have to do a better job in that game than we did against Wilcox," Bostic admitted. "Wilcox was better than us that night, but not 37-7 better."

The Santa Clara school led 16-0 late in the first half, before Morris tightened up the score with a 43-yard touchdown run. Wilcox then stunned the Mustangs on a trick play with just seven seconds to go before the intermission.

"It was a pitch pass," Bostic lamented about the play that started out looking like a run but turned into a surprising touchdown pass.

When the Chargers kicked the extra point, Homestead faced a 24-7 halftime deficit.

In the second half, Wilcox's ball-control offense and Homestead penalties provided challenges that the Mustangs could not overcome.