The Sunnyvale Sun
Sports
Rams light up new scoreboard to top Fremont
By MIKE BARNHART
After a new scoreboard was dedicated at Fremont's Diesner Field in Sunnyvale last Saturday night, halfback Marcos Garces, quarterback Juan Baron and the rest of the Willow Glen Rams gave it quite a workout.
Garces ran for three touchdowns and scored another on one of Baron's two TD passes, leading Willow Glen to a 40-0 win in a non-league season opener for both teams. Sophomore Mike Gibilisco also scored two touchdowns for the Rams, who beat Fremont for the first time in three seasons.
"I didn't expect this at all," Willow Glen Coach Andy Penwarden said, referring to the huge margin of victory. "They had beaten us by one point the past two years."
Indeed, the Firebirds edged the Rams 7-6 last season and 21-20 in 2004. But the key players from those teams graduated from Fremont last June.
This game looked like it might be tight, too, as both defenses had to fend off opening threats.
After senior Shelton Swoopes returned the kick-off 15 yards to Fremont's 31, junior quarterback Daunti Mills directed the Firebirds to Willow Glen's 34. Key plays were a 23-yard sweep around left end by Trestin Savoy and Mills' 13-yard keeper around the other end. However, Mills was sacked on fourth down and Willow Glen took the ball on downs.
It took just four plays for Willow Glen to march down to Fremont's 13, but the Firebirds' defense suddenly turned stingy. Sonny Perez and Angel Valencia teamed to stuff graces for a four-yard loss on first down. Three plays later, returning all-league linebacker R.J. Rivera pressured Baron into a hurried pass, which fell incomplete.
Fremont looked like another scoring threat was in the works, when sophomore running back Pat Washington ran off left tackle for 10 yards and Swoopes followed with a double reverse around the right side for a 17-yard gain and a first down at the Fremont 37. But the Firebirds stalled and were forced to punt.
Moments later the long snap on the punt attempt sailed over the punter's head, and Willow Glen's Gibilisco ended a frantic scramble when he fell on it in the Firebirds' end zone. The score, which came with just 1:41 left in the period, was the first in a string of Willow Glen touchdowns fueled by Fremont misplays.
In the second quarter the Rams cashed in a fumble, another high snap on a punt and a recovered onside kick for 21 more points. It was 27-0 at halftime. The Rams added two more touchdowns in the second half.
Fremont chewed up a lot of time in the third quarter with an 11-play drive that began at its 49-yard line and reached Willow Glen's 10. The rally was stopped, though, when the Rams dropped Rivera for a loss on a fourth-and-seven play.
"Unfortunately, the scoreboard dedication was our biggest highlight of the night," Fremont coach Ron Demonner said.
The new scoreboard honors Dr. Howard Diesner (1908-1984), the same man the field was named for 50 years ago. Diesner's legacy includes a huge commitment to the Sunnyvale community.
Fremont's next opponent will be Del Mar, a 9-7 loser to Lynbrook in its opener. The game, originally scheduled for Del Mar, will be played at Diesner because the Dons' new playing surface is still under construction.
San Jose comes to town on Sept. 22, a week before the Firebirds begin play in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League at Saratoga.
Willow Glen's Garces was the game's top ground gainer with 81 yards on 11 carries. Washington was the top Fremont ball carrier with 60 yards on 14 carries. Mills earned 48 yards on eight runs, but was dropped behind the line of scrimmage five times for losses totaling 32 yards.
In his first varsity game Mills completed 3 of 5 passes for 24 yards. Swoopes caught two of those for 19 yards and Washington grabbed a five-yarder. Swoopes gained 65 all-purpose yards, picking up 19 yards on two carries and 27 on two kick returns to go with his receiving yards.
Demonner cited the defensive play of linebackers Rivera and junior Donny Mena.
King's, Wilcox win openers
The King's Academy and Wilcox both captured their season openers on Sept. 8, while Homestead dropped to 0-2.
Wilcox turned back visiting Terra Nova 14-7, while Homestead fell 37-21 to Branham at Diesner Field.
