Saratoga News

Saratoga 'runs' past Rams

Four Falcons top 100 yards in win over Willow Glen

By Dick Sparrer

To run up more than 500 yards of offense in a high school football game is almost unheard of.

But the Saratoga Falcons did just that on Saturday night.

The Falcons ran for 521 yards on their way to a 579-yard night in an impressive 42-34 win over Willow Glen on the Los Gatos field.

Four players-- Jason Choe, Brent Coleman, Ryan Bernard and Daniel Goni-- rushed for over 100 yards, and the Saratoga offensive dominated the line of scrimmage in the win that head coach Kurt Heinrich felt "wasn't as close as the final score would indicate."

"In my mind, we were comfortably ahead," said Heinrich, whose club led 42-20 late in the game.

Willow Glen rallied for two touchdowns late in the contest to pull within eight points, but the Rams failed to recover an onside kick and the Falcons ran out the clock for the win.

"We excuted the offense very well," said Heinrich, whose club scored six touchdowns, all on running plays. "[Quarterback Daniel Goni] is getting a good feel for what we're trying to achieve. He's doing a good job of running the offense."

Choe led the ground attack for the Falcons with 139 yards on 10 carries, including touchdown runs of 14 and 37 yards.

Coleman was close behind with 135 yards on 17 carries, and he also scored twice, on runs of 55 and four yards.

Bernard ran 13 times for 126 yards and a touchdown, and Goni carried 12 times for 103 yards.

"Whenever you have four guys get over 100 yards, the big guys up front must be moving some people around," Heinrich said. "Those guys really got it done for us."

The coach praised the work of tackles Brian Cavanagh and Lou Petrossi, guards Adam Weiskl and Brady Moran, center Eric Allen and tight end Tim Young. "The offensive line did a super job," added Heinrich, who also singled out coaches Kevin Tanner and Marko Trapani for "calling a great game offensively. They did a fine job of mixing up the running game."

Willow Glen finished the night with 296 yards through the air and five touchdown passes.

"They're pretty proficient through the air," Heinrich said of the Rams. But Nate Duncan and Bryce Allen each intercepted passes, and Andrew Bosworth put on a heavy rush to sack WG quarterback David Macchi to force a fumble.

"The defensive gave us a real chance to win," Heinrich added.

Saratoga, now 2-1, will be back home this week to open the league season against Monta Vista. The Falcons will host the Matadors on Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m., at Los Gatos in the first game of the year in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

The Matadors, like the Falcons, can run the football.

"They run a double tight look," Heinrich said. "Their kids are well coached; they play hard, and they hit hard."

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