Both teams put points on the board five of the first seven times they had the ball in the first half with Willow Glen battling its way to a slim 17-14 lead at the intermission.

With neither team able to break into the scoring column in the second half, the turning point came late in the game with just over four minutes left to play. Willow Glen was in the midst of what appeared to be a scoring drive that would have iced the game. After getting possession at their own 20-yard line with 10:20 left, the Rams methodically marched down the field for 11 plays before lightning struck on what would prove to be the turning point of the game.

The Rams were faced with a third and nine and forced to go to the air. Quarterback Juan Baron dropped back and fired a shot down the middle of the field. The intended receiver slipped and Monta Vista's Cody Chamberlain was there to snag the interception and give the Matadors new life on their own 40. The very next play saw Willow Glen return the favor with an interception of its own but the Rams were flagged for pass interference and Monta Vista retained possession.

Matador quarterback Alex Aikens went to work just like he had been doing all night long. He connected with Chamberlain on three consecutive passes that ate up 35 yards and moved the Matadors to a first and goal at the 10-yard stripe. A draw to Roger Kapul lost five yards before Aikens found Billy Guardino in the flat for an 11-yard gain. Kapul would not be denied a second time as he rumbled up the middle for the final four yards and the touchdown with 1:20 showing on the clock. It put Monta Vista (1-1) on top to stay and allowed the Mats to escape with a 21-17 non-league win over Willow Glen (0-2).

The Rams did not go quietly, though, as they moved to the Matador 36-yard line in two quick plays before three passes fell incomplete and the Matadors let the final few seconds expire.

"Offensively, we just ran out of time again," Willow Glen coach Andy Penwarden said. "We moved the ball fairly well at times but we turned the ball over at costly times."

The Rams struck first in the game, taking the opening kickoff and rolling down the field for 70 yards in only five plays--all on the ground. The clincher was a 57-yard jaunt by Marcos Garces for the score. Garces raced around the left side and headed down the sideline before suddenly cutting back across the field at the 30-yard marker and outran defenders to the end zone. The PAT by McCabe Tonna was good and the Rams enjoyed an early 7-0 advantage.

It didn't take the Matadors long to answer. Aikens and company zipped down the field on an 80-yard, nine-play drive that was an indication of things to come. Aikens connected on five of six attempts through the air. The last one was 26-yard screen over the middle to Marcus Woo, who scampered into the end zone untouched to knot the score at 7-7.

After a short punt by the Rams, Monta Vista got the ball with excellent field position at midfield. Aikens worked his magic again, moving the Matadors in for another score. The drive ended when he dumped a short toss to Kapul who punched his way in for a 10-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Matador lead.

Momentum swung toward the Rams when Sam Canchola gathered in the ensuing kickoff and rambled 35 yards to put the Rams in business in Matador territory. A few plays later Baron floated a screen pass in the left flat where Garces was waiting. Guards Mike Roseland and Greg Garrety were there to clear the way for Garces to scamper into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown strike and even things up at 14-14. The key play in the drive was a fourth down and one quarterback sneak at the 17-yard line when Baron picked up four yards to keep the drive alive.

The Rams added one more scoring drive before the first half ended when Tonna booted a 32-yard field goal with less than a minute to go in the half.

Willow Glen piled up 172 yards on the ground with Garces leading the charge with 107 yards in 13 attempts and the one touchdown. His effort was complemented by Jason Gibilisco (nine carries for 33 yards) and Baron (10 for 28 yards). Anthony Doan added four yards on one carry.

Baron helped balance the Ram attack hitting on nine passes in 24 attempts to gain 88 yards with the one touchdown and one interception. Baron spread his efforts around finding Garces three times for 30 yards and the touchdown while connecting one time each with six other receivers--Gerardo Cisneros (15 yards), Angel Posada (13 yards), Canchola (10 yards), Nick Abbatelli (nine yards), Charlie Findeisen (eight yards) and Gibilisco (three yards).

Posada bagged six tackles and Erik Zetterquist racked up five to lead the Rams defensive effort, which limited the Matadors to two net yards on the ground in the second half and only 17 for the game. It was through the air that Monta Vista was able to do all of the damage.

"Defensively, we have to get our act together. It's that simple," Penwarden concluded.

The Rams better do that quickly as they go up against another strong passing attack when they host Del Mar (2-0) under the lights on Sept. 23, 7 p.m.