The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Mats go four overtimes to top Mustangs

By Mike Barnhart

On a night when big-name teams were playing big games all over the county, there may have been none better--certainly none more exciting--than the one played by Homestead and Monta Vista at Fremont's Diesner Field.

While such marquee match-ups as Bellarmine-Mitty, Los Gatos-Palo Alto and Serra-St. Francis commanded much attention last Friday night, the Mustangs and the Matadors treated a large, appreciative crowd to something seldom seen in high school football--an overtime tiebreaker.

After battling to a 14-14 tie during the four 12-minute quarters of regulation play, the two Santa Clara Valley Athletic League squads worked four extra sessions to reach a verdict in the El Camino Division opener. Monta Vista ultimately prevailed, 36-34.

"That was one for the ages," smiled one game official, walking off the field shortly after Monta Vista senior cornerback Ji Kim ended the game by deflecting a two-point conversion pass from Homestead quarterback Rex Blodgett.

A short distance away near the 20-yard line, the jubilant Matadors jumped up and down, raising their helmets skyward. A week after getting their first win of the season, they had opened league play with a win. Well, sort of.

According to Article III, Section 2.4 of the SCVAL bylaws, published on the league's website (scval.org), the tiebreaker does not affect league standings, but determines the league representative to the CCS playoffs when a tie exists.

So, although Monta Vista's players were ecstatic following the game and Homestead's players were dejected, both teams climbed onto their buses without a win or a loss in league play.

At 0-0-1, both teams were in the middle of the El Camino standings, trailing early co-leaders Lynbrook and Saratoga. Lynbrook beat Gunn in its opener 9-6, while Saratoga walloped Cupertino 48-0.

Whatever you want to call their result, the Matadors felt successful.

"We played our hearts out tonight," said defensive leader Peter Kosulin, who ran all over the field, making a team-high 17 tackles from his linebacker position. "The defense stopped them when it had to."

Led by Kosulin and strong safety Trevor Sambyal (13 tackles), Monta Vista kept Homestead's potent attack out of the end zone during the second half.

In the tiebreaker, each team was given four downs to score from the 10-yard line on alternate possessions. Both teams added seven points in each of the first two overtimes, but neither scored in the third.

Monta Vista quarterback Justin Rahn and senior Billy Guardino combined for a 10-yard touchdown pass to open the fourth OT. After a fake handoff, Rahn swept left end and crossed the goal line untouched, giving the Matadors an eight-point lead.

Senior speedster Darnell Green answered for Homestead, scampering seven yards for a touchdown to bring the Mustangs within two points. Needing to convert a two-point try to force another overtime, Blodgett fired a quick slant-in pass to junior Tommy McCormick. That's when Kim intervened to tip the ball out of McCormick's reach, ending the game.

"Congratulations to Monta Vista," said disappointed Homestead coach Charlie Bostic. "It was a great high school football game, but when you make turnovers and penalties it's hard to win."

Homestead's first big mistake occurred on the first series of the game. On a fourth-and-5 situation at his team's 40-yard line, Kevin Rogers had a tough time recovering a bad snap from center. He could not get the punt away, as Matadors David Orvick, Graham Paterson and Nick Tong buried him for an 11-yard loss at the 29.

On the next play, the Rahn-to-Guardino connection delivered its first score of the day. Drew Constant kicked the first of his four PAT's for a 7-0 lead.

Homestead controlled the remainder of the first half, but led just 14-7 at halftime. Rogers scored both of the Mustangs' touchdowns, a three-yard run in the first quarter and an 11-yard pass from Blodgett in the second. Junior Aaron Godwin tagged on extra point kicks after each score.

The Mustangs threatened to score on two other second-quarter drives, but were denied by lost fumbles. Early in the period, after a Blodgett-to-McCormick pass picked up a first down at the Mats' 7, Matt Moustakas made a big hit on a Homestead runner and Tong recovered at the 9.

In the final minute of the first half, Blodgett and McCormick hooked up for a pair of 18-yard aerial gains, taking the ball to MV's 24. But on the next play, Homestead fumbled and Orvick recovered.

Monta Vista rode the momentum and the running of fullback Moustakas to the game-tying score right after the intermission.

After Guardino returned the second-half kickoff to the 40, the Matadors needed just seven plays to travel 60 yards and even the score. The offensive line of Paterson, Josh Cornwell, Orvick at center, Matthew Whittaker and Matthew Kim opened big holes for Moustakas, who carried five times for 32 yards on the march.

Guardino twice kept the scoring drive alive. He swept right end for nine yards and a first down at Homestead's 20, then gained 19 on a crossing pass from Rahn. Moustakas banged over from the 1 to tie and Constant kicked the extra point to tie the game.

The rest of the game was a spirited battle. Both teams made big plays to earn scoring opportunities, but neither team could cash in and avert the tie.

A recovery of a fumbled punt return set Homestead up for a scoring chance midway through the third quarter. The Mustangs controlled the ball for more than five minutes and lined up for a 25-yard field goal attempt. But the kick never happened, as the snap was too high.

Starting at their own 4, the Matadors then drove to Homestead's 14, before stalling and trying a field goal of their own. Constant's effort from 31 yards out was knocked down by a stiff wind.

A holding penalty on a fourth-and-1 play thwarted a Homestead drive, forcing the Mustangs to punt. Later, Monta Vista reached Homestead's 25 after a 34-yard keeper by Rahn, but the Matadors fumbled the chance away on the next play.

A 42-yard screen pass from Blodgett to Darnell and a 13-yard run by Rogers helped set up a late field goal attempt, but Godwin's 40-yard effort fell a bit short with 59 seconds to play.

The final minute of regulation took several minutes to play, as both teams made their last passes at getting a score. Darnell intercepted for Homestead and Blake Fitzwater intercepted for Monta Vista as time expired. Homestead drew a penalty, though, on Fitzwater's return, and Monta Vista was awarded one last offensive play. From Homestead's 40, Rahn heaved a ball up the left sideline for Sambyal. It landed incomplete, forcing the tiebreaker.

Both quarterbacks passed for more than 100 yards in the game. Blodgett, who scored two short touchdown runs in overtime, completed 11 of 20 for 126 yards. Both Darnell and McCormick caught four passes for 57 yards and Alex Lumidao grabbed two for 11 yards. Rahn finished 8 for 15 for 138 yards. Guardino finished with six catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Axelson caught one pass for 40 yards.

Moustakas ran for 92 yards on 20 carries, including a 10-yard blast for a touchdown in the first overtime. Rogers led Homestead with 81 rushing yards on 22 carries.