Saratoga News

It's a brand-new year for Lynbrook football

By Dick Sparrer

A year ago, the Lynbrook football team won just a single game. A year ago, the Vikings struggled in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. A year ago, Lynbrook was an inexperienced football team.

That was a year ago.

The Vikings return this fall with an experienced crew of seniors leading the charge under the direction of third-year head coach Bob Blaschke, and they hope to make a little noise in the SCVAL's El Camino circuit.

"Lynbrook seniors are hoping to turn around the football program," said Blaschke as he looks ahead to the coming season. "Ten returning seniors will help us compete in the El Camino Division."

Topping the list of seniors are returning all-leaguers Vik Rajagopal and Joey Chan.

Rajagopal is a talented 6-foot-6, 200-pound wide receiver who will be an offensive weapon for the Vikings.

The comeback all-leaguer will be looking for the passes of veteran senior quarterback Ryan Quadro (6-foot-2, 180), who is back to lead the Lynbrook offense. Quadro was the back-up quarterback for the Vikings last fall.

Quadro will work behind an offensive line anchored by Chan (5-foot-9, 215), like Rajagopal a returning all-leaguer. Another solid returner up front is senior Eric Standley (6-foot-3, 240).

Quadro will be giving the football away to the likes of senior fullback Barry Arata (5-foot-7, 160) and senior running back Brian White (5-foot-11, 200). White, who returns for his third varsity season for Lynbrook, is also a top linebacker for the Vikes.

Wide receivers Kenny Ewbank and Bobby Wang, defensive back Jimmy Stamper, tight end David Hsu, running back Minh Sung, linebackers Brian Murchan and David Cabral and linemen Nick Townzen, Mike Ting, Jonathan Hanf and Erik Starr are other seniors on the Lynbrook squad.

Sophomore Gordon Hawley is a top young prospect for the Vikings as a kicker. Hawley will handle the punting and place-kicking chores for Lynbrook this season.

Blaschke, whose Vikings suffered through a 1-9 season in 1997, is hoping for better results in 1998. He rates Gunn as the team to beat in the El Camino Division this fall, but figures his Vikings will be very competitive in league play.

The Lynbrook coach will get an indication of how good his club is when the Vikings take the field for a scrimmage with Mt. Pleasant on Sept. 4, 3:30 p.m., at Lynbrook.

The Vikings open the 1998 season at home on Sept. 12 when they host Westmont. The Warriors play in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

Lynbrook plays another BVAL team in the second game of the year when the locals face Prospect of the Santa Teresa Division, then the Vikes take on De Anza Division powers Homestead and Milpitas before opening division play against Cupertino.

Blaschke heads up a talented coaching staff at Lynbrook that also includes assistants Chuck Rogers, Shawn Hook, Larry Jones, Mike Blaschke, Wahid Razaqi, John Stevenson and Mel Smith.

Football Schedule

Sept. 4: Mt. Pleasant at Lynbrook#, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 12: Westmont at Lynbrook, 1 p.m.

Sept. 17: Prospect vs. Lynbrook at Cupertino, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25: Homestead vs. Lynbrook at Fremont, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2: Lynbrook at Milpitas, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9: Lynbrook at Cupertino*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17: Lynbrook at Santa Clara*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 23: Mountain View vs. Lynbrook at Cupertino*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: Los Altos vs. Lynbrook at Foothill*, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 6: Lynbrook at Fremont*, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 11: Gunn vs. Lynbrook at Cupertino*, 7:30 p.m.

#Scrimmage, *League games

All 7:30 p.m. games preceded by 5:15 p.m. frosh-soph games (the frosh-soph game against Westmont is slated for Sept. 11, 3:15 p.m., at Lynbrook).

Lynbrook Seniors

Quarterback--Ryan Quadro

Fullback--Barry Arata

Wide receivers--Vik Rajagopal, Kenny Ewbank, Bobby Wang

Defensive back--Jimmy Stamper

Tight end--David Hsu

Running backs--Brian White, Minh Sung

Linebackers--Brian Murchan, David Cabral

Linemen--Joey Chan, Eric Standley, Nick Townzen, Mike Ting, Jonathan Hanf, Erik Starr

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