Saratoga News

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Quarterback Daniel Goñi runs with the ball during the game against Monta Vista.

Goñi leads Falcons to win

Saratoga rolls over Monta Vista 28-0

By Dick Sparrer

It wasn't perfect. But the Saratoga Falcons still played a pretty darn good football game on Friday night against Monta Vista.

How good?

"Well, the good news is that in the three phases of the game--offense, defense and the kicking game--we played very well," said Saratoga head coach Kurt Heinrich after his Falcons had rolled to a 28-0 win over the Matadors.

"We were solid in all phases of the game," he added. "It was a nice win."

Sure, it was nice, but what made it even nicer was that it came in the first game of the season in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

The Falcons, now 3-1 for the year, will take that 1-0 league record on the road this week to visit Homestead at Fremont's Diesner Field on Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. The Mustangs are also 1-0 in league after beating Palo Alto 7-0 last week.

"They run the ball in much the same fashion that Soquel did," Heinrich said, referring back to his club's season-opening loss to the Knights. "So we're going to have to hunker down."

"And defensively, they've got quite a few good athletes," the coach added. "It should be quite a challenge for our offense."

The Saratoga offense was certainly up to the challenge last Friday night against Monta Vista. In fact, the defense was, too.

Saratoga punched in four touchdowns, two set up by outstanding defensive plays, to roll past the Matadors.

Daniel Goñi was sensational in the win.

"He had an outstanding game, both on offense and defense," Heinrich said of Goñi, who doubles as a quarterback and linebacker for the Falcons.

Goñi starred offensively, completing 6 of 11 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a touchdown.

And Goñi starred defensively, getting in on a team-high 22 tackles, including a couple of quarterback sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and rambled 38 yards for a score. "He carried us for a while," Heinrich said of Goñi.

The coach was pleased with way Goñi led the offense from his quarterback post.

"We were more proficient through the air in this game," the coach said, praising the work of Goñi and wide receiver Andre Sorba. "Daniel made some nice reads, and Andre put on some good moves and made some guys miss.

"They kept the chains moving for first downs."

The Falcons moved in for their first touchdown of the night early in the second period when Brent Coleman capped a drive with a one-yard TD blast. Eric Bickenbach kicked the first of his four extra points, and Saratoga was up 7-0.

That's how it remained until late in the first half, when Brady Moran blocked a punt to give the Falcons the football deep in Monta Vista territory. Soon after the punt block, Goñi scrambled 19 yards for a touchdown, and Saratoga took a 14-0 lead in at the break.

The Falcons came right out driving in the second half and moved in for another score. Goñi capped the march with a two-yard scoring toss to Coleman.

"Then the defense really got after 'em," said the coach. The Falcons forced a fumble, and Goñi scooped it up to go 38 yards for a touchdown.

"We moved the ball the whole game," said the coach. "We just turned it over too much. We didn't punt until the third quarter."

"And our defense played outstanding," added Heinrich, singling out linebacker Ryan Bernard, noseguard Alex Foster and defensive tackle Moran, along with Goñi, for outstanding efforts.

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