Saratoga News

It 'clicks' for Falcons in big win over Cupertino

By Dick Sparrer

Never has a coach whose team won so big felt so bad.

But Mike Machado wasn't bragging much after his Saratoga football team destroyed Cupertino 62-20 on Saturday night.

Saratoga just seemed to have the Midas touch in the nonleague game. Everything the Falcons touched turned to touchdowns.

"It was one of those nights where everything clicked for us and nothing went right for them," Machado said after the game. "I felt bad for Charlie (first-year head coach Charlie Bostic)."

Saratoga rolled up 555 yards of total offense, and just 95 of that came through the air. Three running backs topped the century mark, led by Trent Frisina's 182 yards.

"The kids just executed real well," Machado added.

Frisina carried 12 times for 182 yards and four touchdowns. Sean Hanley supported with 10 carries for 139 yards and a TD, and fullback John Herndon had eight carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Herndon ran for a couple of touchdowns and hauled in a 45-yard scoring toss from David Goni in the first half to help the Falcons pull out to a 41-6 lead by intermission. Goni also hit Brennan Carroll on a 30-yard TD toss.

Goni finished the night 7 of 10 for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Carroll and tight end Joe Brady had three receptions apiece.

Brady was also singled out for a solid blocking effort in the offensive line, along with center Greg Pagonis, guards Greg Graham and Miles Kihara and tackles Kyle Cardin, Ross Hanson and Alex Fields.

"The kids did a good job of blocking," Machado said. "We didn't fumble, and we didn't do anything to shoot ourselves in the foot."

"Cupertino's not a bad football team," Machado added. "The game just got away from them so fast.

"We just ran off tackle and some sweeps. We did not run a trap in the entire second half."

Saratoga went with an option in the second half, a play the Falcons had had little success with in practice. But Kota Takamoto broke the option for 30 yards and a touchdown, and the scoring continued for Saratoga.

"We just don't really have any second-team backs," the coach said. "We just have 26 guys--we have no depth. We're lucky we have the kids that we do have."

Not only did the Falcons shine offensively, but the defense played well against Cupertino. The Pioneers scored three touchdowns, but two came on kickoff returns.

Herndon starred at linebacker for the Falcons, and Jack Huang was solid at noseguard. The coach praised the work of Takamoto, James Choe and Mike Black in the secondary and Hanson and Jordan Eshelman up front.

Saratoga, now 2-0 in the young season, will return to Los Gatos to face Gunn on Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. The Titans just lost 14-12 to James Lick and are 1-1 this year.

"We watched Gunn, and they've got some good athletes," Machado said of the Titans. "They're not a team you can take lightly.

"We're looking for a good outing to get ready for our first league game."

The Falcons will take on league favorite Homestead on Oct. 4.

Warriors, Panthers go on the road

The Westmont and Prospect football teams will both be on the road this week for nonleague games.

Prospect, a 50-21 winner over Lynbrook last week, takes its 2-0 record to Pioneer on Sept. 28, 1:30 p.m. The Panthers had opened the year with a win over Cupertino.

Pioneer also boasts a 2-0 season record, having beaten both Gunderson and Mt. Pleasant.

Westmont, meanwhile, travels to Santa Cruz Sept. 27, 7 p.m. The Warriors are 0-2 after losing to Gunn in their opener and 15-13 to Piedmont Hills last week.

Vikings are winless

The Lynbrook football team is also off to an 0-2 start in the young season after losing to Prospect 50-21 last Thursday night. The Vikings lost to Monta Vista in the first week of the season.

Things won't get any easier for the Vikings this week. Lynbrook will visit Los Gatos on Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are also 0-2 in the young season, but are hungry after losing to West Catholic Athletic League powers Mitty and Bellarmine.