The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Fremont win over Vikes helps Mustangs in El Camino race

By Mike Barnhart

division teams this season, a 1-1-1 record in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League had tarnished its résumé a bit.

But the Mustangs kept their Central Coast Section playoff hopes alive and improved their division slate at the same time last Friday night in Palo Alto. Senior Kevin Rogers ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Mustangs to a 41-28 triumph at Gunn.

Homestead's post-season hopes were boosted when El Camino co-leaders Lynbrook and Saratoga suffered their first division losses. Fremont edged the Vikings 35-34 and Monta Vista beat the Falcons 21-14.

With two weeks remaining in the El Camino season, four teams now have one loss. Saratoga and Lynbrook dropped to 3-1 last week, while Monta Vista improved to 3-1-1 and Homestead to 2-1-1. Fremont (2-2) stayed within striking distance.

Something has to give at Homestead on Nov. 2, 2:45 p.m., when the Mustangs (6-1-1 overall) host Lynbrook. Later that day, Saratoga will entertain Gunn (1-4, 3-5) at 7 p.m. and Fremont will host Cupertino (0-4, 0-8) at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Monta Vista's division record will not change, because it will play a non-league game at Wilcox, 7:30 p.m.

Significant match-ups in the final week will include Fremont-Monta Vista and Saratoga-Lynbrook.

If not for a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter by Fremont junior Harrison Waid, Lynbrook would have kept its unbeaten division record intact. The Vikings' overall record slipped to 5-3, while Fremont climbed to 4-4.

Homestead jumped all over Gunn in the first quarter, building a 21-0 lead on the strength of scoring runs of two and three yards by Rogers and senior Steven Humor's 77-yard punt return.

The Mustangs led 28-14 after three periods, following quarterback Rex Blodgett's 37-yard TD pass to Darnel Green. Rogers tagged on touchdown romps of 26 and eight yards in the fourth quarter.

Junior Aaron Godwin converted the first five PAT kick attempts, but his final try was blocked.

Woods lifts Fremont

Senior quarterback Kevin Woods passed for three first-half touchdowns, and senior Daunte Mills and sophomore Kemonte Hendricks broke off long scoring jaunts in Fremont's win against Lynbrook.

Woods, who completed 12 of 17 passes for 166 yards, connected with junior Matt Alva for a pair of scoring tosses, a 15-yarder in the first quarter and a 30-yarder in the second. In between, Woods hooked up with sophomore Jordan Sever for 40 yards and another score.

After leading 18-13 at halftime, the Firebirds put two more touchdowns on the scoreboard during the third quarter. Mills raced 65 yards for one of them and Hendricks, who recently became eligible after transferring late in the summer from Manteca, bolted from 45 yards out.

Waid tagged on PAT kicks after both third-quarter TDs, then nailed his decisive field goal for Fremont's only points in the fourth quarter.