And if the Matadors have their way, they will begin this year with a result similar to last year's opener—three touchdown passes and a 29-14 win over the East San Jose school.

But that's exactly where the Mats want the similarities to end.

You see the "29" on the scoreboard in that opener turned out to be a high-water mark for the Mats in 2003. In fact, the Matadors scored seven points or less in seven of their 10 games.

Head coach Jeff Mueller is optimistic about his team's ability to put more points on the board in 2004 and, hence, its ability to turn more point into more games in the win column.

"Offensively, we should be pretty exciting," claimed Mueller, who is expecting the Matadors to improve on their 2-8 overall record of a year ago.

Directing the offense will be senior quarterback Jason Dias (6-foot, 185 pounds), who showed enough potential and made enough good things happen as a junior that he was named second team all-league by opposing coaches.

Among Dias' quarterbacking highlights from 2003 were three scoring passes in the Yerba Buena opener, a key TD pass during a comeback bid against Fremont and a fine display of ball distribution to six different receivers against Homestead.

All-league performer Gavin Zack has graduated, so Dias' probable targets in 2004 will be senior wide receiver Jeff Clewett (6-foot-1, 185) and sophomore wideout Marcus Woo (5-foot-7, 150). Clewett is a returning letterman, while Woo is looking toward his first varsity season after playing on the frosh-soph team as a ninth-grader.

Key players on the offensive line, providing Dias with enough time to find his receivers downfield, will be seniors Matt Delgado (5-foot-10, 200) and Jason Van Wijk (6-foot, 200).

Delgado and Van Wijk will lead a defensive unit that enters the season "young and inexperienced," according to Mueller, after the graduation of all-league defenders Alex Marino and Travis McCloskey.

Delgado, beginning his third season as a varsity starter, will be at nose guard and Van Wijk at linebacker. As a junior Delgado was honored as a first team all-leaguer in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League for his excellent play in the middle of the line.

Mueller and his coaching staff hope that this year's squad can fulfill the promise many of the players showed two years ago with six wins on the frosh-soph level.

Assistant coaches Dave Vieira, Tony Zack, Erik Walukiewicz, Don Romero and David Delgado have been preparing a squad that has 10 returning starters.

In addition to Dias, Delgado, Van Wijk and Clewett, returning players who made an impact as juniors include running back Jake Zander, defensive back Josh Schroeder, linebacker Andrew Lane, offensive linemen Nick Menezes, Justin Perkins and Paul Lawrence and kicker Ben Lovelace.

Lane became a part of the 2003 highlight reel when he intercepted a pass against Fremont and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown.

Other returnees who gained defensive experience last season include Kevin Camilleri, Troy Beeson, Garrett McManus and Taylor Oberhelman.

After hosting Yerba Buena in the opener on Sept. 10 at Cupertino High, the Matadors will play a couple of afternoon games. The Mats will oppose Willow Glen at Lincoln High in San Jose on Sept. 17 and will host Homestead a week later.

The Homestead game will be the only varsity contest on the Monta Vista campus this season, as the remainder of the home schedule is slated for Cupertino.

Monta Vista begins El Camino Division play on Sept. 30, hosting Los Altos. Homecoming is set for Oct. 15 against Santa Clara. Senior Night will be on Nov. 5 against Fremont.

The Matadors' schedule concludes with a non-league game at Palo Alto on Nov. 11.

Sept. 10, Yerba Buena at Cupertino, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17, Willow Glen at Lincoln, 3:15 p.m.
Sept. 24, Homestead, 3:15 p.m.
Sept. 30, Los Altos at Cupertino, 7 p.m. *
Oct. 8, Lynbrook at Cupertino, 7 p.m. *
Oct. 15, Santa Clara at Cupertino, 7 p.m. *
Oct. 22, at Mountain View, 3:15 p.m. *
Oct. 29, at Cupertino, 7 p.m. *
Nov. 5, Fremont at Cupertino, 7 p.m. *
Nov. 11, at Palo Alto, 7 p.m.

* Denotes Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division game