Saratoga News
Sports
Falcons have an easy time with Pioneers
By Kevin Sparrer
Saratoga's football team has given a new meaning to the term three and out.
The negative connotation that typically refers to three plays and a punt had nothing to do with the Falcons on Sept. 28 when they played host to Cupertino in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division opener for each club.
Saratoga's first three drives consisted of less than four plays each and yielded two touchdowns. There was no need to punt since the Falcons just went the distance on every drive but two in the first half on the road to a 48-0 victory over the Pioneers.
"I was concerned coming off a bye last week," said Saratoga head coach Kurt Heinrich. "I was happy with elements of the game."
Since Cupertino was unable to score against the tough 'Toga defense, the first touchdown became the most important. After Saratoga defense held Cupertino at the Falcons' 28-yard line on fourth down, Saratoga took over and wasted no time. Gabe Essner carried twice, going eight yards each time, before Peter Florence broke a 56-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. Kris Clark booted the extra point and Saratoga led 7-0.
The defense held strong again, forcing a Cupertino fumble that Steven Walker picked up to give the ball back to the Falcons on the Pioneer 42-yard line.
Kyle Guengerich threw his first pass of the night, but it fell incomplete. Guengerich then completed a pass to Mathew Spencer for 13 yards, plus half the distance to the goal due to a Cupertino penalty. Guengerich then hit Andrew Capek from 15 yards out for the second Falcon touchdown.
The Pioneers still struggled against the Falcon defense, running only three plays and gaining only six yards before being forced to punt. Keon Ghafouri caught the punt at the Saratoga 38 and scrambled 62 yards for another Falcon score.
After that, Cupertino mounted its first offensive drive with any success, going from its own 20-yard line to the Saratoga 35 before giving the ball up on an unsuccessful fourth down try.
The ball changed hands a couple of times, with the first punt from Saratoga and then Spencer picking off a Cupertino pass at the 'Tino 35-yard line. Saratoga used the good field position for another score. On the sixth play of the drive, Ghafouri ran the ball in from 11 yards out.
The Pioneers were forced to punt after only three plays and Saratoga took over on its own 45. This time the Falcons took four plays to go 55 yards for the score. Guengerich connected with Capek on the final play of the drive for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Clark knocked the ball through the uprights a fifth time to bring the lead to 35-0 with only 2:39 remaining in the first half.
"Ghafouri is a fast receiver who moved to running back," said Heinrich. "Ghafouri, Spencer and Essner share the running back position by committee."
In the second half, Cupertino was still unable to slow the Falcons' offense. On its second drive of the half, Saratoga went from the Cupertino 42-yard line to the end zone on only five plays. Michael Guercio, who had come in as quarterback, stepped up and hit Alex Wokas with a 16-yard touchdown pass. The kick failed and Saratoga went ahead 41-0.
Clark knocked the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, and on the first play of Cupertino's drive the Falcons forced a fumble that Raymond Boales recovered. Saratoga's Casey Farmer carried the ball in on the third play of the drive for a three-yard touchdown run and Clark kicked the extra point to finish the scoring at 48-0.
Capek was the main receiver of the day, catching three passes from Guengerich for 51 yards and two scores. Guengerich connected on 4 of 8 passes for 64 yards. He also carried the ball once for six yards.
"I thought we had really good play from Guengerich. He made good choices and threw catchable balls," said Heinrich.
Guengerich had a lot of time to throw thanks to the offensive line of Matthew Hawks at left tackle, Bryan Dodge at left guard, David Pignatelli at center, Alan Yen at right guard and Zack Kowitz at right tackle.
Ghafouri carried the ball twice for 32 yards and took a punt return back 62 yards. Ghafouri scored twice in the win.
Guercio threw one pass for 16 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball twice for 17 yards.
Essner didn't score, but he did carry the ball four times for 31 yards.
Matt Keating led the defense with 10 stops, including a sack for six-yard loss. Keating also blocked a punt in the game.
Kowitz was a strong force on the defense, tallying seven stops, including his own sack for a five-yard loss. Saumaan Vahabi was also in on Kowitz' sack and two other tackles.
Farmer had five stops, including a sack for a one-yard loss.
"Our defense really responded," said Heinrich.
Saratoga goes to Los Gatos on Oct. 5 for a 7:30 p.m. non-league game against the Wildcats.
