Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Willow Glen wins, ready for West Valley Division opener

By Mike Barnhart

After two rough seasons in the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Santa Teresa Division, Willow Glen is ready to launch its West Valley Division season this Friday night at Andrew Hill.

After winning just two of 12 league games the past two years against schools with much higher enrollment, the Rams earned a demotion to the BVAL's "C" division where coach Andy Penwarden figures the Rams will be more competitive this season.

Now, after flexing their muscles and explosive winged-T offense for the second time in three weeks, the Rams have served notice to the other West Valley teams. They will be a team to be reckoned with on the path to the division crown.

Del Mar, the West Valley champion in 2005 and the team that switched divisions with Willow Glen, was rolled under by the Rams' scoring machine on Sept. 22 under the lights on the WG field. Willow Glen scored early and often, building a 35-0 halftime lead enroute to a 49-0 triumph. Two weeks earlier, the Rams thumped Fremont 40-0.

Just as he did against Fremont, senior running back Marcos Garces broke through the Del Mar defense for several long gainers. Doing most of his work in the first half, Garces packed the ball 18 times for 217 yards, including touchdown runs of 77 and 17 yards.

Garces' first long gainer early in the first period put his team in scoring position, but the Rams lost a fumble. However, Del Mar fumbled the ball right back and the Rams quickly put the ball into the end zone. Senior quarterback Juan Baron connected with senior fullback Anthony Doan for nine yards and a quick six. Junior Richard Martinez tacked on the first of five conversion kicks for a 7-0 lead.

Willow Glen's defense, led by 6-foot-2, 222-pound senior linebacker Mike Roseland, kept Del Mar in check all night, forcing punts on most possessions.

Garces broke free for his 77-yard scoring burst on the Rams' third possession, putting his team up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter. By the time the powerful halfback broke off his second scoring run, Willow Glen already was leading 27-0.

Baron's nine-yard pass to Marcus Turner and sophomore Mike Gibilisco's scintillating 64-yard run preceded Garces' 17-yard TD romp. Baron added a two-point PAT, turning a bad snap into a conversion and a 35-0 halftime lead.

Willow Glen, playing its reserves on offense during most of the second half, added a touchdown in each of the last two quarters. Senior Sam Canchola, usually a defensive back and punt returner, spelled Garces at running back and delivered a nine-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Doan picked up his second score of the game, a seven-yard TD run.

After the game at Hill, Willow Glen will play home games on consecutive Saturdays. Yerba Buena will visit on Oct. 7 and Overfelt on Oct. 14. Both games are set for 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Del Mar still is looking for its first win as it enters its Santa Teresa debut on Sept. 29 at Evergreen Valley. The Dons start division play with two road games. After an afternoon game at Santa Teresa on Saturday, Oct. 7, the Dons hope their new field will be ready for an Oct. 14 date with Mt. Pleasant.