The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Matadors hold on for 48-34 win over Vikings

By BRAD WALL

What started out as a tense defensive struggle became a shootout as the Monta Vista Matadors survived a furious fourth quarter rally to hold on against the Lynbrook Vikings, 48-34.

"You've got to give credit to Ray Wright and his coaching staff. Those kids did not give up," said Matadors head coach Jeff Mueller. "I wouldn't want to have to play them again; they did a great job."

Heading into the fourth quarter with a 28-13 lead and buoyed by a raucous homecoming crowd, the Matadors seemed determined to erase the memories of their loss last week as they pounced on the Vikings.

Matadors running back Kota Kojima made two huge plays on a 67-yard touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter--a 20 yard reception and a shifty 25-yard run--setting up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Matthew Moustakas.

"Kota is really our inspirational guy; he had a great game offensively. We know people are going to double (Marcus Woo), so what we do is utilize our other talent," said Mueller.

The Vikings were undaunted, though, as they answered the Matadors score with a 35-yard touchdown run by Kevin Rahbar.

For Rahbar, that run equaled his entire production in the first three quarters; however, he was just getting warmed up.

With just under eight minutes left in the game, the Matadors led 35-19. Woo returned the kick-off 45 yards and a personal foul placed the Matadors at the Vikings 16-yard line.

Vikings quarterback Alex Atkins found Woo on the next play for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and with 7:47 left in the game the Matadors appeared to have an insurmountable 41-19 lead.

Again, though, the Vikings would not go away quietly. On the first play of the next drive, Rahbar exploded down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown run and the extra point by kicker Jim Baglanis made the score 41-26.

With over seven minutes left, Vikings defensive end Andy Meunier made the defensive play of the game, intercepting an attempted wide receiver screen.

The once boisterous crowd sat in stunned silence as the Vikings quickly put together a four-play, 39-yard drive, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by Scott Day. After the two-point conversion, the Vikings only trailed 41-34 with six minutes left.

"The resolve of these boys is unbelievable," said Vikings head coach Ray Wright. "They've worked so hard since January, and to come from 0-10 to where we're at now is a big accomplishment."

For much of the game, the Vikings had been doing an excellent job of containing the Matadors dynamic duo of Woo and Kojima, however great players always find ways to make plays.

After Max Rickman recovered the Vikings onside kick attempt, it took the Matadors just two plays to score the clinching touchdown. Following a 12-yard run by Kojima, Woo ripped off an incredible 28-yard touchdown run that displayed his speed, power and balance.

With less than three minutes left, the Vikings had one more chance to keep their faint hopes for a comeback win alive. However, the Matadors had no intention of letting this win slip away.

Defensive lineman Ruby Murugesan pressured Vikings quarterback Greg Wallis into a rushed pass which was batted away by defensive back Andrew Kahng to effectively end the game.

Judging from the first half, there was no way to suspect the game would end as such a shootout.

The Matadors used an explosive third quarter in which they scored two touchdowns in the first three minutes of the second half to blow open a tight game.

With the score tied 7-7 heading into the third quarter and their running game largely ineffective in the first half, the Matadors decided to switch gears and put the game in the hands of their rocket-armed quarterback Atkins.

"We made an adjustment at halftime. They were playing their corners really tight, and so with our speed we thought we could go ahead and use our passing game a little more," said Mueller.

Atkins marched the Matadors down the field on their opening drive, going 3 for 3 for 70 yards, including a 45-yard strike to running back Woo and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kojima.

The Vikings muffed the ensuing kickoff, giving the Matadors the ball at the Viking 33-yard line. The Matadors quickly capitalized on the Viking mistake, with Kojima slithering through the Viking defense for a 15-yard touchdown run.

All of a sudden, with 9:16 left in the third quarter, the Matadors had a 21-7 lead.

After forcing a three and out from the Vikings on their next possession, Woo finally got a chance to show the explosiveness that has made him such a respected player in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Woo received the punt at his 45-yard line and weaved his way through the Viking punt coverage for a 55-yard return for a touchdown.

Down 28-7 with 4:16 left in the third quarter, it would have been understandable if the Vikings packed up and called it a game.

However, there was no quit in the Vikings.

Wallis led the Vikings on a nine-play, 67-yard drive, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Eric Park in the back of the end zone, making the score 28-13 and setting the stage for the wild fourth quarter.

"They came in and they were a little down so we had to have some inspirational words for them to get them going again," said Mueller of the way his Matadors bounced back from their first loss of the season.

Atkins had a good game for the Matadors, finishing 8 of 13 for 166 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Kojima had seven carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns--including a 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He also had two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Despite not having a big day rushing the ball, Woo still racked up 200 total yards and scored three touchdowns.

Wallis led the way for the Vikings going 11 for 22 for 92 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Rahbar ended up having a great game with 15 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and Day finished with 13 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns--including a 2-yard score in the second quarter.

Both teams continue their march through the El Camino Division as the Vikings (4-3, 1-3) host Los Altos (6-1, 3-0) on Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m., at Cupertino and the Matadors (6-1, 3-1) visit Fremont (2-5, 1-2) on Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.

Cupertino (1-5-1, 0-4), a 42-0 loser to Los Altos last week, will play host to Saratoga (5-2, 3-1) on Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

Over in the De Anza Division, Homestead (1-6, 0-3) lost 56-0 to Wilcox last week. The Mustangs will visit Mountain View (5-2, 2-1) on Friday, 3:15 p.m.