The Sun
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Woods runs well, but Mustangs fall to Cats

By Dick Sparrer

On paper, Homestead looked like the heavy underdog against Los Gatos last Friday night. And on the scoreboard, the Mustangs appeared to be, too.

But on the field? That was a different story.

The Mustangs may have lost 37-8 to Gatos, but they gave the Wildcats all they could handle before losing the decision in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Los Gatos went into the game with a 3-3 season record, but all three of those victories had come in the first three weeks of the league season.

The Mustangs, on the other hand, were 2-4 for the year and even at 1-1 in league play. But admittedly, the defending league champs were underdogs against the powerful Cats.

Still, Homestead managed to dominate the football and roll up the yardage against Los Gatos. The Mustangs did everything but get the ball into the end zone.

Oh, they did once. But Gatos scored five touchdowns and a field goal to pull out the victory.

Jason Woods certainly did his part for the Mustangs. The speedy tailback raced for 110 yards and a touchdown to lead Homestead to 244 yards of total offense. Homestead also dominated the football in the game, running 61 offensive plays to just 40 for the Wildcats.

But the game is decided on the scoreboard, and in that area Los Gatos dominated the Mustangs, even if Homestead did get off to a quick start.

The Mustangs stopped an early Gatos drive short of the end zone, and the Cats had to settle for a first-quarter field goal.

Homestead came back driving, with Woods carrying most of the load as the Mustangs marched down the field. Woods capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run early in the second period.

"He's a good running back with outstanding speed," said Los Gatos coach Butch Cattolico of Woods.

Homestead added a two-point conversion, and the Mustangs were up 8-3.

But Los Gatos scored two touchdowns before intermission to move in front 16-3.

Homestead showed good ball control in the third quarter.

"They were able to move the football and hold onto the ball," said Cattolico of Homestead. "They held onto the ball for about seven minutes."

But the Cats were able to score three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to clinch the win.

Senior quarterback Andy Myers completed seven of 14 passes for 71 yards, including an 18-yarder to Woods.

The Mustangs slipped to 1-2 in the division with the loss, and they are 2-5 for the year. Homestead will now visit Palo Alto on Oct. 31, 3:15 p.m.

Firebirds ace Pioneers

Theresa Phan, Nina Nguyen and Tarang Saini all won singles matches to lead the Fremont girls' tennis team to a 5-2 win over Cupertino in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL last week.

Phan posted a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, and Nguyen won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 3. Saini won by default at No. 4 singles.

Virginia Li and Van-Anh Nguyen teamed for a 6-4, 7-5 victory at No. 2 doubles, and Cindy Ly and Angelique So won 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 at No. 3.

The win helped the Firebirds improve to 4-6 in the division.

Nisha Ramachandran and Erica Halk teamed for a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles, but Homestead lost a 6-1 decision to Los Altos in De Anza Division play.

Fremont falls

The Fremont Firebirds, meanwhile, will host Monta Vista in a De Anza Division game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Diesner Field.

The Firebirds are coming off of a tough 10-6 loss to Saratoga that left them 0-3 in league play. Fremont is 4-3 for the year.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 29, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.