Homestead came out on top 34-26, but not without some serious competition from the Matadors.

Monta Vista struck first on a combination of five plays for 80 yards and a touchdown. Monta Vista made the extra point and the Mats were quickly up 7-0.

But Homestead answered right back. Tim Kimball and Chris Morris each carried the ball for short gains, then Jake Mecchi connected with Kimball on a 32-yard pass over the middle that left Homestead on the Monta Vista 19-yard line. Jay Atkins powered his way in from there and Tyler Dailey booted the extra point to take the lead, 7-6.

With a few penalties to help them out, Monta Vista drove the ball down the field and Jason Dias hit Garrett McManus for a 21-yard touchdown pass and a 13-7 lead after a failed kick.

Homestead took over drove the ball to the center of the field, but the Mustangs fumbled and Monta Vista's Taylor Oberhelman picked it up, regaining possession for the Matadors.

Monta Vista would hold the ball into the beginning of the second quarter, but would find the Homestead defense overwhelming and had to punt.

Homestead's offense took advantage of its strong defensive play and pushed the ball down the field. Morris and Atkins traded off carrying the ball and together moved the length of the field where Mecchi would take it in himself for another touchdown. With the addition of the point after, Homestead took the lead 14-13.

That's how it remained through intermission.

Homestead took the kick off after the half but was struck with misfortune after moving the ball to midfield, fumbling it away to Monta Vista.

Though Homestead's offensive unit made a mistake, the defense stood firm and would not allow the Matadors to move the football. Monta Vista ran seven plays before being forced to punt the ball back into Homestead's hands.

The Mustangs took advantage of the opportunity and pushed the ball down the field, where they would score on a 7-yard run by Morris.

But Monta Vista would not be silenced. The Matadors were led by Dias to another touchdown. Dias threw the ball nine times to go 78 yards for the TD. Dias connected with Kevin Baugh on a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 20-20.

But Homestead attacked Monta Vista's defense with a vengeance. Dailey received the kick off on the 22-yard line and brought it out 11 yards. Then Morris took over. The speedster ran the ball four yards on the first play and then broke away for a 63-yard touchdown run to regain the lead 27-20.

Yet again, the Matadors would answer quickly. In only six plays and a little more than a minute and a half, Monta Vista drove the length of the field and Dias connected with McManus on a 10-yard TD toss, but the Mats could not complete the extra point, leaving them trailing by one, 27-26.

The ball switched hands twice and the Mustangs found themselves with the ball and only a few minutes left in the game. At their own 39, Homestead began the charge. Morris took the ball and broke it outside for 32 yards before being knocked out of bounds. He would then go another nine yards on the following play and two plays later broke through the center of the line for 19 yards and the final touchdown of the day, giving the Mustangs a commanding 34-26 lead with only 1:40 to go in the game.

The Matadors would rush the ball down the field, but once they crossed the 50-yard line they could not move any farther.

"Our offensive line played very well," said Homestead coach Charlie Bostic. "We were able to rush for over 300 yards."

"Monta Vista was well coached," he added, "and they were well prepared."

Monta Vista will face Los Altos on Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m., at Cupertino and Homestead will host Gunn on Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m. It will mark the league opener for each club.

Pioneers fall to Cats

Cupertino lost a lopsided 62-7 non-league decision to Los Gatos last Thursday night, despite getting a 100-yard plus night from senior running back Bronson Farr.

Farr, a 5-foot-11, 232-pound back, ran eight yards for a second-quarter touchdown for Cupertino's only score of the game. Sophomore Jimmy Trask, who kicked the extra point, had set up the TD with a pass interception that he returned 36 yards to the Los Gatos 8-yard line.

The loss left Cupertino 1-2 for the season as the Pioneers prepare to face another De Anza Division squad in a non-league game this week. Cupertino will visit Milpitas on Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.

Vikings slip to 0-3

Lynbrook's season record dropped to 0-3 this season when the Vikings lost 60-0 to Wilcox in a non-league game last week.

The Vikes hope for different results this week when they open the El Camino Division season on Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., at Fremont. The Firebirds are 1-2 following a 44-3 loss to Saratoga last Thursday night.