The Willow Glen Resident

Krail's return to Pioneer is clouded by loss to Grizzlies

By Dick Sparrer

Mark Krail was hoping for more of a momentous return to Pioneer.

Krail, a former Willow Glen quarterback, had spent a number of years as a Pioneer teacher and coach before moving to Lincoln as the athletic director a few years back.

But he returns to Pioneer this fall not only as a classroom teacher, but as the school's head varsity football coach.

And he made his debut in that post last Saturday afternoon when the Mustangs played host to Gunderson in a nonleague game.

But there was nothing momentous about this game... at least, not as far as the Mustangs were concerned.

Pioneer lost 21-6 to the Grizzlies in Krail's debut as a varsity head coach. But it's not that the Mustangs didn't have their chances.

Three times Pioneer moved the football in the football--one drive ending at the Gunderson one, another ending on a pass interception and a third ending when the halftime clock ran out.

So despite three shots at a touchdown, the Mustangs went in at the half down 14-0.

Pioneer scored in the third period to cut the Gunderson lead to 14-6, and two fumbles by the Grizzlies kept the Mustangs in contention. But Gunderson scored late in the game to spoil Krail's return to Pioneer.

The Mustangs actually threatened first in the game. After the clubs had traded punts on the first two possessions of the day, the Grizzlies put the ball on the ground for the first of four times in the game and Landers Niven recovered the fumble for the Mustangs.

Senior quarterback Greg Haskell tossed 15 yards to Kevin Gray and 15 more to Brian Davis to give the Mustangs a first-and-goal at the Gunderson four.

Mike Wiens hit the line for two yards, but the Mustangs were flagged for illegal procedure. Two Haskell tosses fell incomplete before the senior QB took off running on fourth down. But he could make it only to the turn, and the Grizzlies took over on downs.

Six plays later senior quarterback Kenan Smith broke one 67 yards for a touchdown, and the Grizzlies were up 6-0.

Pioneer drove the ball again after the kickoff. Wiens carried three times for 15 yards, and Bryan Collins ran four times for 15 more. Haskell hit Davis for another 13 yards, but his second down toss from the Gunderson 41 was picked off.

The Grizzlies went 71 yards in nine plays to score, Smith capping the drive with a one-yard TD toss to Ray Jones. Smith threw to Ramon Payne for the two-point conversion and Gunderson led 14-0.

Haskell hooked up with Jeff Luu for 19 yards, scrambled for 14 on his own, went back to Luu for 14 and hit Wiens for 20. But the half ended with the Mustangs on the Gunderson 12.

Pioneer finally scored late in the third period. Sean Sarsfield ran eight yards for a first down, and Wiens went 20 to the Gunderson 21.

Wiens had a 14-yard run before going the final seven for the touchdown that cut the Gunderson lead to 14-6.

The Grizzlies started moving after the kickoff but once again fumbled the ball away. Del Vaca forced a fumble that Luu recovered at the Pioneeer 43.

Sarsfield carried three times for 18 yards to get the Mustangs over the midfield stripe, but the Mustangs came up short on a fourth down play and turned the ball over on downs.

Once more Gunderson gave the football away, though. Vaca forced another fumble that defensive lineman Jason Murdock caught in midair. But the Mustangs gave the ball back on three plays and a punt.

This time, Gunderson took advantage of its opportunity. The Grizzlies moved in for another score, Smith going six yards for a TD.

Pioneer fumbled the football away on its final possession, and the Grizzlies had locked up the win.

Haskell was impressive in his first game of the season, completing 12 of 19 passes for 142 yards. Luu had six catches for 55 yards, Wiens caught three passes for 25, Davis caught two for 28, Travis Murdock caught one for 16, Gray caught one for 15 and Sean Hallihan caught one for three.

Wiens led the ground attack with 59 yards on 11 carries, and Sarsfield supported with seven carries for 31 yards.

Luu was Pioneer's top tacklers with eight stops. He forced one fumble and recovered another. Vaca was close behind with seven tackles, including a pair of forced fumbles.

Grant Murdock was in on six tackles, J. Murdock and Sarsfield five apiece and Niven four.

The Mustangs will be chasing their first win of the year when they visit Yerba Buena on Sept. 18, 3:30 p.m. The Warriors lost 35-0 to Monta Vista last week.

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