Photograph by Robert Scheer
Prospect quarterback Mark Bestul lets go of a pass in second-quarter action against Cupertino. Bestul and the Panthers opened the year with a 30-0 win over the Pioneers. Prospect heads to Cupertino Sept. 19 to visit Lynbrook at 7:30 p.m.
By Dick Sparrer
Mike Machado is hoping for a happy ending to the 1996 Saratoga football season.
He already knows that the Falcons had a happy beginning.
The Falcons got that last Saturday night when they whipped Soquel 21-10 at Los Gatos' Helm Field.
Saratoga ran up over 400 yards of total offense on the road to the season-opening victory, and running back Trent Frisina led the way.
Frisina carried 12 times for 203 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run.
"He ran the ball real well," head coach Mike Machado said of Frisina. The coach also singled out Sean Hanley and Kota Takamoto for strong efforts carrying the football. "The backs did a great job. They did a great job of getting up the field.
"We moved the ball real well on offense," Machado added.
Senior quarterback David Goni hooked up on 8 of 16 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown, and showed great leadership for the Falcons.
"He's got a lot more confidence this year," Machaco said of his QB. "He looks more comfortable back there. It makes a big difference for us."
Goni helped the Falcons get on the board in the first period with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Carroll. Tyler Kellogg kicked the extra point, and Saratoga was up 7-3.
But Soquel scored in the second period and took a 10-7 lead in at intermission.
"I like the kids we have--I've had these kids for four years now," Machado said. "They've always been able to bounce back." And it was no different on Saturday night.
Goni shot over from the one for a third-period touchdown, and Frisina took off on the 80-yard TD run in the fourth. Kellogg converted after each score, and the Falcons had more than enough for the victory.
Machado was pleased with the performances of his backs, his quarterbacks and his receivers, Brennan and Brian Carroll. But it was the performance of the offensive line that was crucial to the victory.
"The question mark going into the season was our offensive line," Machado said. "And they did a great job."
The coached praised the work of guards Kyle Cardin and Miles Kihara, tackles Ross Hanson and Greg Graham, center Greg Pagonis and tight end Joe Brady. Not only did Brady block well for the Falcons, he caught a couple of passes.
"All of them did a great job," the coach added. "Soquel brings nine guys up and they shoot the gaps. They come right at you."
The Saratoga defense did some "comin' at ya" of their own.
Machado praised the work of down linemen Jack Huang, Alex Fields, Hanson and Jordan Eshelman, linebacker John Herndon and defensive back Mike Black for outstanding efforts. Cornerback James Choe contributed with a pair of pass interceptions.
"The defense did a great job of stopping [Soquel]," Machado said.
After Saratoga scored in the third, Soquel threatened to retake the lead with a drive to the Falcon 11. But Black killed the drive with a clutch interception, and Saratoga controlled the game the rest of the way.
"It was a very physical, hard-hitting game," Machado said. "We were pleased to get by them."
The Falcons will go after their second win of the young season when they visit Cupertino on Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Pioneers are coming off of a 30-0 loss to Prospect, but Machado's not letting that fool him.
"They play us with a lot of intensity," Machado said of Cupertino. "It's a game that they really want to win.
"We know that we've got to stop David Jackson," he added. "We have to go in preparing our kids with what we know they will run."
Panthers win, Warriors fall
Prospect and Westmont opened the season on Sept. 13 with very different results.
The Panthers started the year with a lopsided 30-0 shutout win over Cupertino, and the Warriors were shut out 14-0 by Gunn.
Prospect will go after its second straight win of the young season on Sept. 19. The Panthers visit Lynbrook for a 7:30 p.m. game at Cupertino High. The Vikings were beaten 49-7 by Monta Vista.
Westmont will play its home opener Sept. 20, 7 p.m., against Piedmont Hills. The Pirates lost 24-3 to Mills last weekend.
Falcons net victory
The Saratoga girls' tennis team nailed two singles wins and two more victories in doubles play to open the 1996 season with a tight 4-3 triumph over powerful Leland.
Senior Malea Doore cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles and Sophomore Camille Benhke won 7-6, 6-3 at No. 4 singles to get the Falcons even after four singles matches.
Juniors Kelly Pisani and Lindsay Lightbody teamed for a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles and Carolyn Hooper and Stacy Chue won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles to help clinch the team victory.
In other local girls' tennis action, Yvonne Tseng won twice at No. 2 singles, but Lynbrook could manage just a split, beating Wilcox 6-1 but losing to Mountain View 4-3.
Prospect lost 4-3 to Pioneer, but came back to whip Silver Creek 6-1 to improve to 1-1 in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League and to 2-1 for the year.
Stacy Dadson posted a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, but Westmont lost its season opener 6-1 to Overfelt.
Falcons fall, Warriors split
The Westmont girls' volleyball team split in a pair of non-league matches last week, but the Saratoga Falcons lost a pair. The split left Westmont 4-3 for the year.
The Warriors handled Andrew Hill in three-straight games, winning 15-8, 15-11, 15-9. But Westmont dropped a five-game heartbreaker to powerful Cupertino, losing 15-10, 9-15, 11-15, 15-11, 15-9.
Saratoga lost in five to Leigh 17-19, 16-14, 11-15, 15-9, 15-11 before dropping a 10-15, 15-4, 15-7, 15-13 decision to Notre Dame of San Jose.
The Falcons slipped to 3-4 for the year with the two losses.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 18, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved