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Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Pass It Down: Willow Glen quarterback David Macchi looks downfield for a target in last Friday's 21-7 loss to Prospect.
Rams lose league opener
Missed chances prove costly for Willow Glen
By Dick Sparrer
It wasn't exactly the way the Willow Glen football team had planned to open the league season.
But the Rams lost their opener in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League when they dropped a 21-7 decision to Prospect last Friday afternoon.
"We had our chances," said Willow Glen coach Sonny Flores. "This is a game we definitely should have won. We just didn't capitalize on our opportunities."
The Rams certainly had their chances. They scored a first-half touchdown, but were in the red zone two other times and came up empty, once turning the ball over on downs and the other time fumbling the ball away.
The Panthers moved the football into field-goal range on their first possession of the day. Prospect stalled and attempted to kick for three points, but Willow Glen blocked the kick and Kyran Warren scooped it up, racing 66 yards to the Prospect 9.
But the Rams fumbled the ball away a few plays later.
Senior quarterback David Macchi helped the Rams jump out to a 7-0 lead in the second period when he tossed 41 yards to Will Rideau for a touchdown. Bobby Hobbs kicked the extra point, and the Rams had the lead.
But the Panthers scored before intermission to tie it 7-7, then scored two unanswered TDs in the second half to win it.
Macchi didn't start the game for the Rams, but he came off the bench to complete 15 of 27 passes for 176 yards and the one touchdown. Rideau pulled in five passes for 72 yards and Gabe Candelaria snagged three passes for 45 yards.
Leon Thomas led the ground attack with 81 yards on 10 carries and Warren added 59 yards on eight tries. Warren also had two catches for 33 yards and Thomas caught two balls for 15. Senior right tackle Erik Lupercio led the charge in the offensive line for the Rams, who rolled up over 300 yards of total offense in the game.
"I thought we did a pretty good job of stopping their offense," admitted Flores. The Panthers scored one touchdown on an 83-yard pass and another after taking over possession at the Willow Glen 23.
Nick Rohwer led the defensive effort for the Rams with eight tackles, including three quarterback sacks.
"He played extremely well," said Flores of Rohwer.
Inside linebackers Seth Andrews and Warren led the Willow Glen tacklers. Warren was tops with 10 tackles and Andrews was in on eight.
Willow Glen, now 2-2, will try to get back on the winning track this week. The Rams will visit Independence on Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. The 76ers are 0-4 after falling 47-0 to Oak Grove last Friday night.
"This is an important game for us," said Flores, whose club now needs a win to keep its title hopes alive.
"This league is wide open," added the coach. "But I like our chances."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
