The Sunnyvale Sun
Sports
Homestead scores early, but loses 20-3
By KEVIN SPARRER
A lead is a fragile thing. That's something that the Homestead football team learned all too well against the Leland Chargers on Sept. 15 when the Mustangs fell 20-3 after leading 3-0 for the majority of the first half.
Senior Andrew Galen booted a 47-yard field goal to give the Mustangs the early lead. Leland had received the original kick off but couldn't move the ball out from within its own red zone and was forced to punt. The Mustangs were a little more fortunate with a first down on a quarterback scramble when senior Alex Jones ran for 11 yards.
Homestead was flagged on the next play that made it first and 25 and the Mustangs were unable to make up the yardage. Homestead punted the ball away but on the first offensive play for Leland, the ball popped loose and junior linebacker Phillip Birton fell on it for Homestead.
After junior Kevin Rogers moved the ball up two yards on two plays, Jones tried a pass, but the receiver couldn't come up with the ball. Then with 6:47 left in the first quarter, Galen knocked the ball through the uprights to give the Mustangs the 3-0 lead.
The Chargers drove 74 yards on nine plays for the first touchdown of the day. The kick failed due to a bad snap and senior Shamir Ross flying across the holder's face from the side.
In the second half, it was all Leland on offense. The Chargers drove down and scored on their first two possessions. Homestead finished with only 172 yards of total offense with Ross having the lion's share with eight touches for 54 yards.
Jones scrambled 10 times for 27 yards behind his line of Birton at right tackle, senior Dominic Chapot at right guard, junior Jeff Neale at center, sophomore Benjamin Kimure at left guard and senior Jeff Laber at left tackle. He connected on one pass to senior John Dasilva for 11 yards.
Rogers had eight carries for 19 yards, while senior Brian Backo had eight for 26 yards. Sophomore Alex Lumidao took the ball in hand once for 17 yards and senior Evan Matthews also had one carry for 17 yards.
Senior Tim Vanderet and Birton each had sacks.
