Sports Briefs

Rams lose key game to Dons

It was a big game for the Willow Glen football team.

The Rams, who had lost to Prospect earlier in the league season, needed a win over Del Mar to jump back into the race for the title in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

But a win wasn't in the cards for the Rams last Friday afternoon. Willow Glen dropped a 28-12 decision to unbeaten Prospect, and the Rams slipped to 1-2 in division play and to 3-3 for the year.

Still, head coach Sonny Flores remains hopeful. "We've got some big games coming up," said the Willow Glen boss. "But I don't think the playoffs are out of the question."

The Rams probably have no shot at the division championship with two losses. But they do have a chance at the playoffs should they manage a strong finish in the league season.

Willow Glen didn't help its chances much last Friday, though. The Rams hung with Del Mar for a half, but the Dons scored a couple of unanswered touchdowns in the third period to pull out in front.

"You've got to give Del Mar credit," said Flores after the game. "They're not 6-0 for nothing."

Still, the Rams stayed right with the Dons for a half, answering each of Del Mar's first-half touchdowns.

The Dons took the early lead with a first-half touchdown, but Willow Glen came right back when senior quarterback David Macchi tossed to Will Rideau for 31 yards and a score.

Del Mar scored in the second quarter, but once again the Rams fought back. This time Macchi hit Gabe Candelaria for 34 yards and a touchdown to leave the Rams down just 14-12 at intermission.

"The first half was played pretty evenly," said Flores.

But the Dons scored two touchdowns in the third, and went on from there to clinch the win.

Macchi finished the day hitting on 18 of 43 passes for 206 yards and the two touchdowns."He played a great game," said Flores of Macchi. "He a warrior and competitor. He's the real deal."

Candelaria pulled in six tosses for 76 yards, and Rideau snagged four passes for 49 yards.

David Estrella caught three balls for 27 yards before leaving the game with a broken collarbone. His replacement, Daniel Rice, grabbed three passes for 41 yards. "He made some key catches for us," said Flores of Rice.

Leon Thomas led the ground attack with 14 carries for 86 yards, and Kyran Warren added 23 yards on five tries. Thomas also had a catch for six yards, and Shane Lamar had a catch for seven yards.

The coach praised the work of senior cornerback Mike Strangis and junior lineman Guillermo Rivera, defensively. Rivera had a quarterback sack for the Rams.

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