The Willow Glen Resident

Rams score 41, but lose

Willow Glen falls in CCS playoffs

By Dick Sparrer

Bob Parker figured that Onan Reyes and the Burlingame Rabbits would score some points.

He just wasn't sure if his Willow Glen offense could stay with the Rabbits in the first game of the Central Coast Section Division III football playoffs.

The Rams had been struggling offensively in recent weeks, and Willow Glen was going up against an offense that featured a 2,000-yard gainer in Reyes.

The Rams would have to score some points. And, boy, did they ever!

Willow Glen put 41 points on the Burlingame scoreboard to match the Rabbits in regulation.

That was the good news. The bad news was that the Rams lost the California Tiebreaker to face elimination from the playoffs.

But you won't catch Parker and his Rams complaining.

"The kids fought all the way to the end," Parker said after the loss. "We felt pretty good about this year. Our kids played awfully well."

Parker was especially pleased with his squad's offensive effort in the game.

"It was just fun to watch our offense," said Parker, whose club ran up nearly 400 yards and scored six touchdowns in the game. "I wish our offense had shown that same spirit all season long," he added.

Senior running back Dewitt Willis scored four touchdowns in the game. He carried 13 times for 109 yards two TDs and caught four passes for 60 yards and two more touchdowns.

"That was his biggest game of the year," Parker said of Willis. "He just had a great game."

Miguel Campos supported with 70 yards on seven tries, and sophomore quarterback David Macchi carried twice for 15 yards, including a two yard touchdown run with 40 seconds left in regulation.

Burlingame scored to take a 41-33 lead with just over two minutes remaining, but Macchi drove the club down the field, then scored on a quarterback draw.

He pulled in a pass from Willis for the two-point conversion, and the game was tied 41-41.

It was tied, but it wasn't over. Burlingame moved deep into Willow Glen territory and spiked the football with six seconds left to take one shot at the end zone. Nich Holt intercepted the Burlingame pass, though, and the clubs were headed to the tiebreaker.

After two plays the Rams had the slim advantage with the ball at the Burlingame 49, then Campos took off for 20 yards down to the 29.

But the Rabbits completed a pass back to the Willow Glen 40 to grab the upper hand. Macchi was sacked a play later, and Burlingame had nailed the victory.

Holt picked off two passes for the Rams, and senior linebacker Ricardo Mendez was also singled out for his defensive effort.

"The defense played pretty well, but the story this week was the offense," Parker said.

Macchi completed 19 passes for 229 yards, including two touchdown passes to Willis (24 and seven yards) and one to John Fernandez (11 yards).

Fernandez led the Rams with eight catches 77 yards. Willis had the four grabs for 60 yards, Holt had four receptions for 38 yards and Cory Hare had three catches for 54 yards.

The coach also praised the work of the offensive line in the win, singling out tackles Mike Von Reuden and Eric Brugioni, guards David Dudley and Paul Sanchez and center Doug Murr.

"There were some big, big plays," Parker said. "There was a lot of excitement and a lot of big plays."

Willow Glen lost to slip to 8-3 for the year, but Parker was pleased with his team's effort in the playoffs.

"Last year, we just didn't match up [with Gonzales]," Parker said. "But this time we were really ready to play.

"We've come a long way."

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