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Dons lose opener despite strong show
By Dick Sparrer
Tailback Reymon Murphy and quarterback Joey Stover were matching their talents when San Jose City College visited De Anza Community College to open the 2000 junior college football season.
And make no mistake about it--they are both talented football players.
But two long touchdown runs by San Jose's Murphy overshadowed a solid performance by De Anza's Stover as the Jaguars pulled out an exciting 20-13 opening day victory.
Murphy scored on runs of 71 and 73 yards to lead the Jags to the win, but Stover kept the Dons in the game with his pinpoint passes and key runs.
San Jose entered the game as a heavy favorite but had to hold on through De Anza's final possession to pull out the hard-fought win over the spirited Dons.
Murphy scored on a 71-yard run with 2:33 left in the first period, and Ricky Everett kicked the extra point to put the Jags up 7-0.
San Jose scored again midway through the second quarter. A Jag punt bounced off a De Anza player, and Malcolm Freitas was there to pounce on the football to give San Jose a first down at the De Anza 21. On the next play, Seth Bancroft tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to René Nelson.
De Anza answered right back, though. Stover went to his favorite target, sophomore Ed Defreitas, for a big gainer, then the quarterback scrambled 15 yards to the 1. A play later he snuck over for the TD to cut the lead to 13-6 with 4:31 left in the half.
The Dons threatened again late in the half when Stover hooked up with Defreitas, Ajene Palmer and Marcus Page (Fremont) to lead the club down the field. But Jason Baptiste sacked Stover, forcing a fumble that Justin Wiltz recovered to end the threat.
But De Anza scored in the third quarter to tie the game. Stover hit Palmer for 33 yards, then went to Matt Carver (Valley Christian) for 47 yards and the score. Jason Smith kicked the extra point that tied the game 13-13.
The Dons stopped the Jags after the kickoff, but Aaron McGinty got the ball back in a hurry for San Jose with a leaping, acrobatic interception. A couple of plays later, Murphy took off on a 73-yard TD run and Everett converted to give the Jaguars a 20-13 lead.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
