Unfortunately for Saratoga, though, once Mountain View gained control of the ball, it didn't take the Spartans long to get it over the goal line.

Saratoga scored first on a short run by Steven Marinero in the second quarter, but the Spartans came back to score in five plays to tie the game, then went on to score four more times to nail a 34-18 win over the Falcons.

"We had the first possession, and we controlled the entire first quarter," said Saratoga coach Kurt Heinrich. "We ran double tights and old schooled it. Offensively we did exactly what we wanted to do, but defensively we just couldn't stop them."

The Falcons, playing without talented wide receiver Alex Lagemann, sidelined with a concussion, were forced to ground it out against the Spartans. And they were successful on ground with Lenny Liccardo leading with the way with 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns, one on a 60-yard run. Marinero and Scott Newberry also played well offensively.

But the absence of Lagemann and other Saratoga walking wounded have left the Falcons undermanned, especially defensively.

Still, the coach was pleased with the performances of the two backs, Liccardo and Marinero, and Newberry.

"He competed his butt off on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game," said Heinrich of Newberry.

The loss left the Falcons 3-6 for the year and 1-4 in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Saratoga will close out the season at home in a rare Thursday game on Nov. 10, 2:45 p.m., when the Falcons host powerhouse Wilcox. The Chargers are 8-1 for the year and 4-1 in the division, sharing second place with Los Gatos (4-1, 7-2). Palo Alto leads the division with a 5-0 record, but faces Los Gatos on Friday night. A Wilcox win over Saratoga, coupled with a Los Gatos win over Paly, would create a three-way tie for the division title.