Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
The Saratoga Falcons are lining up for another football season. The Falcons will open the season on Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m., at Los Gatos against Cupertino.
Falcons out to carry on tradition
Moshier tops a list of eight returners on Saratoga varsity
By Dick Sparrer
There's something to be said for tradition.
And Saratoga football coach Kurt Heinrich hopes it will have an impact on the 2000 season.
The Falcons are young this fall, and their enrollment is not even close to the numbers at the other schools in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
But still Heinrich is optimistic heading into the 2000 campaign.
"We will be very young, but competitive," said Heinrich of his Falcons. "The team worked as hard as any team we have had here at Saratoga."
"We feel confident that these young men will empty their tanks for us week in and week out," he added. "We are excited for the opportunity to carry on the rich tradition of (football) success at Saratoga."
Heinrich and his staff--Marko Trapani, Kevin Tanner, Ray Burney and Steve Smith--certainly know something about that tradition. They were each all-league football players at Saratoga during their prep playing days.
They have all returned to coach at their old high school, and hope to pass the torch on the present-day Saratoga athletes. And they appear to have a capable group to carry that torch.
A solid core of eight lettermen return from a Saratoga team that posted a winning 5-4-1 record a year ago, with 1999 all-leaguer Jon Moshier leading the charge.
Moshier (6-foot-2, 220) is a talented two-way tackle who returns for his senior season after winning a place on the all-league second team a year ago.
Fullback Mike Cable (6-foot, 220) and running back James Lii (5-foot-7, 155) return to the backfield for the Falcons and are expected to lead the running attack. Junior John Griffin (5-foot-10, 175) will also get his share of carries.
"(Cable) is a strong, tough inside runner," said Heinrich, "and (Lii) is a quick, elusive runner."
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Kicker Gennaro Sylvia works out at a Saratoga practice, working on his punting.
The coach is hoping that junior quarterback Scott Moran (5-foot-9, 165) will develop into a team leader for the Falcons.
"He's a crafty quarterback with good command of the offense," said Heinrich of Moran. "He has a good arm."
Moran will be shooting his passes to wide receivers Ryan Helmuth (6-foot, 170), a senior returner, and Devin Shrock (6-foot-1, 170), a junior who Heinrich says is "the best wide receiver, with good hands and speed."
Jeff Swanberg (6-foot-1, 190) is a senior returner at tight end and Troy Follmar (6-foot-3, 195) is a junior tight end moving up from the frosh-soph.
"(Swanberg) is a great competitor and a hard worker," said Heinrich. "And (Follmar) is strong and has great hands."
Lettermen Mike Charters (6-foot-1, 190) and Scooter Hart (6-foot, 200) will lend experience in the offensive line. Charters is a senior guard who Heinrich calls "a strong competitor," and Hart is a senior center who the coach says is the "strongest player on the team."
Junior Connor Peck (6-foot-2, 200) and sophomore Greg Van Hoesen (6-foot, 185) are two young prospects in the offensive line.
Senior Peter Foster (6-foot, 165) is a "fast defender" who returns to a linebacker spot, and newcomer Marc Muniz (6-foot-3, 200) is a junior 'backer who Heinrich calls a "tough defender and fierce hitter."
Charters, Swanberg, Hart and Griffin will also see duty at linebacker for the Falcons and Moshier, Cable, Peck, Follmar and Van Hoesen will hold down spots in the defensive line.
Helmuth should be a "hard hitter" in the Saratoga secondary, and Shrock will play a defensive back position for the Falcons.
"As a group, this team was 2-8 while at the frosh-soph level," said Heinrich. "But they have a real desire to improve on that record."
They'll get the chance this week when the Falcons open the season on Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m., at Los Gatos against Cupertino. Saratoga will open De Anza Division play on Sept. 28 against Wilcox at Los Gatos.
Quarterback Scott Moran steps in behind center Scooter Hart during a recent Saratoga football workout.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Vikes out to improve
Over in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL, Lynbrook is hoping to improve from a 2-4 finish last year, and there are three returning all-leaguers on the field planning to make that wish come true.
Josh Huizar, Brandon Bencomo and Gordon Hawley each won all-league honors a year ago, and return as seniors for the Vikings. Huizar and Hawley each return for a third season on the Lynbrook varsity.
Huizar (6-foot-3, 200) doubles as a fullback and linebacker for Lynbrook, and Bencomo (6-foot-2, 205), is a two-way player at tight end and in the defensive line.
Hawley (5-foot-9, 198) is a talented kicker who will handle the chores as the Vikings' place-kicker and punter.
The three top a list of 12 returning seniors at Lynbrook that also includes Rob Evans (6-foot-5, 195) and Soaman Dizechi (5-foot-9, 145), who will battle with junior Sean Imai (5-foot-9, 155) for the starting quarterback spot.
"We have 12 returning seniors," said head coach Bob Blaschke, "but we lack depth on the offensive and defensive lines."
Still, with Bencomo and veteran Mauricio Arce (5-foot-10, 241) up front, the Vikes do have talent in the line, even if they aren't too deep across the front.
Senior Brodie Maag (6-foot, 175) joins Huizar as a returning linebacker, and junior James White "will also contribute greatly" as a linebacker and fullback, said Blaschke.
The Vikings, who finished 3-7 overall last year, open the season against Luther Burbank of Sacramento on Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m., at Cupertino. Lynbrook will then face Homestead, Saratoga and Monta Vista of the De Anza Division before opening the El Camino Division season against Cupertino on Oct. 6.
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