"They defensed the middle," Saratoga coach Kurt Heinrich said moments after his team's final tune-up prior to league play. "They were trying to take away Peter Rutti."

Of course! All the 6-foot, 190-pound senior running back had done during the first two weeks of the season was run wild between the tackles for four touchdowns and 448 yards on 37 carries.

The Firebirds somewhat contained Saratoga's inside attack, although Rutti did run for 91 yards and two touchdowns as Saratoga built an 18-3 halftime lead, but they could not stop the outside game.

In an amazing third quarter, Saratoga ran just three plays from scrimmage and they all went outside for long touchdown runs, turning an 18-3 halftime lead into a rout. Final score: 44-3.

Speedy senior Phil Spencer, who entered the game with a rushing total of just 69 yards, raced 65 yards around left end on the first play after the second-half kick-off. Later, after an impressive Fremont drive ended in a lost fumble in the end zone, Tyler Williams swept right end for 80 yards and a 30-3 lead. Finally, following a Fremont punt, Spencer ran 72 yards to paydirt on a trap play, that he broke to the outside.

So much for scouting reports. Spencer, who had set up the first score of the game with an 82-yard jaunt around left end in the first quarter, collected 238 yards on just six carries.

"This was a huge confidence builder going into league," smiled Spencer after the game, "especially since we had a poor week of practice."

No one would have known. It's hard to imagine running the sweep any better than the Falcons did against Fremont.

With Spencer or Williams going in motion from a slot position, quarterback Brandon Kinsting takes the center snap, turns and hands the ball at precisely the right time. Meanwhile, left tackle Chris Chavez or right tackle Danny Kowitz is making a fine seal block to spring the runner free to the outside.

Fremont showed an ability to control the football. The Firebirds totaled 64 offensive plays to Saratoga's 33. Unfortunately for the Firebirds, they couldn't put the ball across the goalline.

The Firebirds were just inches from a touchdown in the third quarter. Starting on their 30-yard line, after Spencer's first TD put the Falcons ahead 24-3, the Firebirds chewed up more than eight minutes of the clock on 15 straight running plays.

But Saratoga's Mike Block and Brent Walter knocked the ball loose on a Fremont running play and Williams recovered for Saratoga in the end zone for a touchback.

On the next play Williams went in motion, took a handoff and zipped around right end. In fact, Spencer escorted him up the sideline. In the second quarter, Williams ran the same play 85 yards for an apparent score, but it was called back because of a holding penalty.

Saratoga gained all 393 of its yards on the ground, including 38 by Scott Newberry during a fourth-quarter scoring drive put together by the second-team offense.

The nine-play, 60-yard march was engineered by backup quarterback Amir Gupta. Eric Wong ran three times for 23 yards, including a 17-yard run around right end for a first down. John Rhodes kept the drive alive when he fell on a teammate's fumble. Newberry picked up the last three yards, scoring on a run over left guard.

David Orasin capped the scoring with his second PAT kick of the game.

Senior Danny Wallace, playing football for the first time, turned in a fine game at left defensive end. He was involved on several tackles, including a sack, but his biggest play occurred late in the first half deep in Fremont territory.

Wallace, the El Camino Division's basketball Most Valuable Player last season, used his quickness and long arms to deflect a pitchout then recover it on the 6-yard line.

Other Saratoga tackling leaders were Walter, Adam Sato, Eric Finnegan, Ryan Hall, T.J. Florence, Block, Mark Denari and Scott Francis. Walter forced two fumbles and Chris Greene recovered one.

Two plays later, Rutti ran in from the two for his second touchdown. Rutti's first score was a 44-yard burst off the left side that put the Falcons ahead 12-3.

Kinsting scored the Falcons' first touchdown on a 3-yard run in the first period.

Saratoga opens league play against Palo Alto on Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., at Los Gatos.

Warriors lose to Leigh

Chantz Staden receives the kick-off at the 8-yard line for the Westmont Warriors. He breaks a tackle, puts on a good move and there he goes. No one can stop Staden as he goes 92 yards for the touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Westmont football team, though, the momentum came a little too late in the game against Leigh on Sept. 24. The Warriors lost 41-12 to the Longhorns.

Despite the loss, and though they trailed through the entire game, the Warriors didn't give up and continued their aggressive play.

It was the special teams that really gave Leigh a problem.

In the first quarter on Westmont's first drive of the day, after three plays and a punt, the Warriors were able to run down the punt and recover the own kick. One of the Leigh players was blocked into the bouncing ball, and Westmont jumped on it at the Leigh 45-yard line. Eight plays later, Daniel Weller ran for a 1-yard touchdown it tie the game 6-6.

Between their two passers—Ryan Mehta and Kevin Pham—the Warriors were able to put together 127 yards passing against an exceptional Leigh defensive unit.

Weller carried the ball 13 times for more than 50 yards on the night. Brad Davis, Ryan Kanzaki, Casey Modiri, Staden and Weller helped out in receiving and moving the ball.

Westmont will open the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division season on Oct. 1, 7 p.m., against Andrew Hill at the Overfelt High School field.

Panthers open up

The Prospect football team will open the BVAL West Valley Division season on Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m., when the Panthers play host to Evergreen Valley. The Panthers, 2-1 for the year, are coming off of a bye last week.

Kevin Sparrer contributed to this story.