Their 47-34 loss to Menlo-Atherton in the Central Coast Section Division II finals on Dec. 7 doesn't diminish the players' accomplishments.

The Mustangs played in the semifinals for the first time in seven years after beating No. 1 seed Piedmont Hills Nov. 30 at Wilcox High School. They brought home a 10-3 overall record.

"The season couldn't be better," says Homestead head coach Charlie Bostic. "The players work really hard. And they work together unselfishly as a team. I am proud of them."

This has been an unforgettable season for Homestead's five coaches and 40 players.

After playing 10 games, six league and four non-league, the Mustangs advanced to the CCS playoffs with an 8-2 record. On Nov. 23, they won their first CCS playoff game since 1996 in a 48-34 victory over perennial power Oak Grove.

Their semifinal game against the previously undefeated Piedmont Hills was especially exciting. With just 38.5 seconds left to play, Homestead quarterback Craig Maynard heaved a game-winning 56-yard touchdown pass to running back Brian McGee to win 21-17.

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Football players Brian Ouyang (52) and Artur Grigorian (53) watch their teammates defend the ball against Piedmont Hills during the last tense minutes of the Central Coast Section playoff game at Wilcox High School.

Running back William Faules, who led the Mustangs with 70 yards rushing and 17 carries at the semifinal game, agrees.

"We are way underrated but we show people who we really are," he says.

Bostic, who started coaching Homestead in May 2001, says the team's success is the result of the players' spending endless hours in practice.

As early as November 2001, the team started its conditioning training. They worked out in the gym and ran every day.

In June, the players went to a one-week football camp at the University of Oregon, where they received more intensive training. There they practiced three times a day, with sessions from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. When they were not practicing, they competed with 24 other football teams that came from all over the West Coast to the summer camp.

"This was our first time to go to a camp," says Chris McKim, who plays offensive line and defensive line. "We ate together. We slept together. We played together. The team really bonded after that."

Since school started in September, the players have practiced three hours every weekday. Before every practice, they watch videotapes of their opponents' old games. They even practiced on Thanksgiving.

"The key is repetition," says running back and linebacker Ramont Thomas. "We do what the coaches ask us to do until we are doing it right. It's hard practice every day."

Thomas says their hard work does help them win but they cannot achieve anything without the coaches.

"We used to have lot of attitudes," says Thomas, who has played on the varsity football team for three years. "We didn't do what we were told. Coach Bostic knew we were not a disciplined team when he came. He just turned his back on the media and opened his arms to us. He came to make a change."

Bostic has coached football for 12 years, with three years of experience at Lynbrook, four years at Cupertino, and three years at Gunn in Palo Alto. He has worked with his four assistant coaches—Jamode Caldwell, Joe Marinello, Paul Steffen and Brian MacCormick—for nine years.

"The first year was really hard," Bostic says. "It was difficult to get the kids buying what we wanted. But they understand our system now and believe in what we are doing."

To understand the players better, Bostic made a point of introducing himself and his system to every player individually when he began coaching the team. When the players are injured, the coaches call them at home to follow up on their recovery progress.

"The coaches have been very supportive," says Ben Thomas, Ramont Thomas' father. "They didn't just teach the kids how to play—they taught them the techniques of the sport. My son's skills have matured a lot."

After two years of dedicated training, the coaches gradually won the hearts of the players.

Strong safety Richard Scott says Caldwell, the coach with whom he has worked most closely, has been a mentor.

"He always makes sure we play our fullest on the field," Scott says. "I feel I can relate to him."

Caldwell says the coaches are just as lucky to have so many talented players. For example, Garren Strong plays both wide receiver defensive back for Homestead. Faules was a CCS champion in the 300-meter high hurdles last spring and went on to place seventh in the state for the 110-meter high hurdles.

"With the talents we already have, we can compete with anyone," Caldwell says. "They like to compete, and they are not afraid of anyone."

But Bostic stresses that the star players cannot score without the support of the linemen.

"We have very good individual players, but our offense and defense line are the backbones for everything," he says. "They are the ones who allow the other players to shine."

Bostic says he has used Delaware Wing-T as Homestead's offensive system, which focuses on running the ball and misdirection.

"We altered Delaware Wing-T a little bit to accommodate our good players, but they don't get the ball all the time and have to work with other players as a team," he explains. "They don't really care because football is teamwork."

Bostic hopes the Mustangs will keep up the teamwork next season.

While the team's junior players look forward to getting another championship, this is the last time for the team's 28 seniors to play high school football.

"It's fun," says Strong, a senior. "It's competitive. It's a team sport. It brings us closer to each other. We are like brothers."

Caldwell agrees with Strong.

"Once you play football together, you are friends forever," says Caldwell, who used to play football with Bostic at De Anza College. "I am sure the kids will remember this year and be friends for years to come."

Photograph by Sean Penello Homestead senior Andrea Shields tries to console wide receiver/defensive back Garren Strong after a tough 47-34 loss.