Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Saratoga quarterback Scott Moran completed just 4-of-12 passes for 131 yards last Friday night, but two went for touchdowns in the Falcons' 37-0 win over Cupertino.
Falcons roll to win in opener
Saratoga runs past Cupertino 37-0
By Dick Sparrer
It was difficult time to concentrate on football for the players at Saratoga High School.
The Saratoga community was grieving the loss of two students killed in a tragic car accident earlier in the week, and the last thing on anyone's mind was football.
Still, there was a game to be played on Thursday night at Los Gatos. And after observing a moment of silence in the memory of classmates Eleanor Patrick and Nicola Rooke, the Falcons went out and rolled to a 37-0 victory over Cupertino.
"The kids played pretty well under very adverse conditions," said head coach Kurt Heinrich.
"We simplified our game plan and executed what we had worked on all week," he added. "We played a pretty clean game for our first time out."
Saratoga jumped ahead of Cupertino early and never looked back.
Senior speedster Kirk Robinson took off on a 31-yard touchdown run in the first period and A.J. Weitsman kicked the extra point to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead early.
"He's the fastest kid on our track team," said Heinrich of Robinson. "If he gets some daylight, he can go the distance."
Robinson got some daylight early and was off to the races, thanks in no small part to the work of tackles John Moshier and Chris Barrett, guards Mike Charters, Connor Peck and Greg Van Hoesen and center John Hart.
After that, junior quarterback Scott Moran went to work.
Moran tossed a 51-yard touchdown strike to tight end Troy Follmar and Weitsman converted again to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead before the end of the period.
Robinson blasted over from the 1 in the second quarter, and Weitsman added an extra point and a 24-yard field goal. Saratoga took a commanding 24-0 lead in at intermission.
Moran went back to work in the third period. He completed just 4-of-12 passes for 131 yards, but two went to Follmar for touchdowns. His second TD pass to Follar was good for 11 yards and a 30-0 Saratoga lead.
"He played pretty well," said Heinrich of Moran's varsity debut. "He had a very good command of what we were trying to do on offense, and he was a calming force for our team."
Keeping the Falcons calm was an important part of Moran's job, given the events of the week and also the fact that the Falcons are light on varsity experience this fall.
"We're a young football team," said Heinrich. "But [the players] are extremely eager to compete."
Saratoga closed out the scoring before the end of the third period when James Lii pounded over from the 2 and Weitsman added his fourth extra point of the night.
Robinson and Lii led the ground show, according to Heinrich, but it was Moran who led the offense.
"Scott did a great job with our offense," said the coach. "He missed a few passes early, but when he got a sweat going he did a very good job."
The Falcons played virtually flawless defensively, holding Cupertino to just 78 yards of total offense.
"When you hold a team to just 78 yards, everybody has to be doing their job," said Heinrich. "[Coach] Steve Smith did a nice job with our defense, and the kids executed the defensive game play and really got after 'em."
"Now we have to focus on Fremont," added the coach. The Falcons will visit the Firebirds on Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.
"They're a big team, and they move the ball around," said Heinrich of Fremont. "It will be a nice challenge for us."
The Falcons play Fremont and Lynbrook in the preseason before opening up against powerful Wilcox in the rugged De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
"I know you've heard it a thousand times," said Heinrich, "but we really have to take 'em one game at a time. With a young team, we have to build momentum and gain confidence."
Cupertino was the beginning, now the Falcons hope the momentum will continue to build against Fremont.
"This week we'll add a little more to our offensive game plan, we'll add a little more to our defensive game plan, and we'll try to get better in our kicking game," said Heinrich.
Fremont enters Friday's game after losing its opener 19-8 to Westmont.
Westmont a winner
It was the fourth quarter of a tight 7-0 football game. Westmont had the lead, but Fremont had the football and the Firebirds were going to the air.
That's when Mike Hilbert turned the momentum of the Friday night game Westmont's way and started the Warriors on the road to a 19-8 victory.
Hilbert stepped in front of a Mike Mattman pass and returned the interception 40 yards for a touchdown. The TD gave the Warriors a solid 13-0 lead.
But they weren't finishe yet. Senior quarterback Chris Snyder tossed an 18-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Brian Mazikowski, and the Warriors were in control 19-0.
Mattman battled back with an 8-yard TD toss to Ron Cerda and Mattman ran for the 2-point conversion. But it was too little, too late for the Firebirds.
Hilbert had given Westmont the early lead when he blasted over for a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Dustin Peterson kicked the extra point to put the Warriors on top 7-0, and that lead would stand up until the two touchdowns in the final quarter.
The Warriors will put their 1-0 record on the line this week against Lincoln on Sept. 15, 7:15 p.m., at Westmont. The Lions opened the year with a convincing 48-28 victory over Willow Glen last Friday night.
Washington scores
Saladin Washington started the 2000 season the way he finished the 1999 campaign--scoring touchdowns.
But the speedster couldn't do enough to help the Prospect football team avoid a 27-6 season-opening loss to Gunn.
Gunn jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the game, but Washington got the Panthers close with a 27-yard TD run before the end of the period.
The Titans scored in the second and third, though, and Prospect couldn't answer back.
Washington led the Prospect offense with 94 yards on 19 carries and junior quarterback Curtis Wills hooked up on 8-of-14 passes for 74 yards. Four of the completed passes went to Washington for 24 yards.
The Panthers will be gunning for their first win of the year when they host Mt. Pleasant on Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.
Vikings win
The Lynbrook football team opened the season with a nonleague victory over Luther Burbank of Sacramento, and the Vikings will try to make it two straight this week when they host Homestead on Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., at Cupertino.
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