Photograph by Jeff Kearns
Westmont's Mike Hilbert turns the corner against. Hilbert scored a touchdown in the 22-19 win over the Panthers.
Snyder leads Warriors to win
Vikings, Falcons drop decisions
By Dick Sparrer
Brad Metheany knew before the season began that his Monta Vista football team would have to rely on the speed of Shamel Ferguson.
And the senior running back has not disappointed Monta Vista football followers.
Ferguson raced to 131 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening win over Yerba Buena, he ran back a kick off 85 yards for a touchdown in a loss to Cupertino, and he carried 18 times for 73 yards and a TD in a win over Fremont.
Then last Friday he did it again.
Ferguson carried 19 times for 161 yards and a couple of touchdowns in Monta Vista's tight 12-7 win over Lynbrook.
Ferguson scored on an 8-yard run to give the Matadors a 6-0 halftime lead, then scored on a 52-yard run in the final period to help the Mats pull out the victory.
Soaman Dizechi scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter and Gordon Hawley kicked the extra point to give Lynbrook a 7-6 lead heading into the final period against the Mats. But Ferguson's second touchdown of the night gave Monta Vista the win.
The Matadors, now 3-1 for the year, will open play in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League this week when they host Milpitas on Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m., at Cupertino.
Lynbrook, meanwhile, opens the year in the El Camino Division when the Vikings battle rival Cupertino on Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m., at the 'Tino field. The Vikes finished the preseason 1-3.
Cupertino enters the game with a 1-3 season record after losing its league opener 34-7 to Los Altos last Friday night.
Falcons fall
Saratoga fell from the unbeaten ranks last Thursday night, losing 39-14 to Wilcox in the De Anza Division opener for each club.
The Falcons took a 3-0 preseason record into the game, but fell behind 21-7 in the first half and ended up losing by four touchdowns.
Scott Moran drilled an 8-yard touchdown pass to Troy Follmar to get the Falcons on the scoreboard before the half. Wilcox had run up a 21-0 lead before Moran and Follmar hooked up for the TD. A.J. Weitsman kicked the extra point, and it was 21-7 at intermission.
James Lii took off on a 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Weitsman converted, but Wilcox score three times in the period on the road to the victory.
Saratoga, now 3-1 for the year and 0-1 in league play, will try to get back on the winning track this week when the Falcons head to Fremont to face Homestead on Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Homestead takes a 2-2 record into the game following a devastating 50-0 loss to Milpitas last Friday night.
Westmont wins
There were only 53 seconds left in the game and Westmont had a slim 22-19 lead when the Warriors took over the football against Prospect last Friday night.
It appeared that all Chris Snyder had to do was put down a knee on four straight plays to run out the clock and secure the third win of the season for Westmont.
But things didn't quite turn out that way. Oh, Snyder took a knee four times, but after his fourth touch-down there was still five seconds on the game clock.
So the Panthers got one last chance.
Prospect quarterback Curtis Wills went to the air, hoping to get the Panthers into the endzone and to a victory. But Ben Peterson had other ideas.
The junior defensive back broke up Wills' final pass attempt, and the Warriors had hung on for a 22-19 victory.
The Westmont win came in the first game of the league season in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. And it was a sweet, come-from-behind win for the Warriors.
Westmont trailed 19-7 at the half, but the Warriors came charging from behind in the third quarter.
Snyder took off on a 10-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left in the third period, and period kicked the extra point that cut the Prospect lead to 19-14.
Snyder went to the air later in the period, finding Brandon Mazikowski for 40 yards and the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds left in the quarter.
Prospect jumped offsides on the conversion try, so with the football a yard and a half closer to the goalline, the Warriors decided to go for two. Snyder ran in for the 2-point conversion, and Westmont had the 22-19 lead.
The clubs battled through a scoreless fourth period, and the Warriors hung on for the win.
Prospect had taken the early lead on a couple of touchdown runs by Sal Washington. The senior sensation scored on runs of 2 and 15 yards, and Brent Maselli converted after each score to put the Panthers on top 14-0.
Westmont moved in for a touchdown to cut away at the Prospect lead. Mike Hilbert scored on a 2-yard run and Peterson converted to make it 14-7 with 1:23 left in the half.
But Prospect would strike once more time before intermission. Wills tossed a touchdown pass to Mike Stephens to put the Panthers on top 19-7 with jsut 53 seconds left in the second quarter.
That just set the stage for Westmont's second-half comeback.
Snyder had a big night for the Warriors. He completed six of 18 passes for 109 yards, and he also carried nine times for 70 yards. He threw for one touchdown, ran for another and ran in for a 2-point conversion.
Mazikowski pulled down four passes for 90 yards to lead all receivers in the game.
Hilbert supported on the ground with 52 yards on 10 carries and Bill Stouffer added 40 yards on nine tries.
The Warriors finished the night 269 yards of total offense, working behind a powerful offensive front of Duane Kawar, Dave Horner, Mark Cole, Gareth Gorman and Chad Helmonds, and tight ends Chad Sisemore and Josh Washington.
Todd Bethke was the Westmont tackling leader with 13 stops. Stouffer was in on 11 tackles and Gorman got in on 10.
Luke Rocheleau picked off a Prospect pass and ran it back 20 yards in the second quarter.
The Warriors, now 3-1 for the year and 1-0 in league, will visit Gunderson on Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.
Prospect will host Willow Glen on Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m. The Rams are winless in four games this season.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
