Eight days after dumping Branham 26-22, Bostic's Homestead squad was dumped by visiting Leland 33-7. One week after Walzcak's Firebirds outlasted Willow Glen 20-19 in a game not settled until the final play, their was no comeback in a 34-14 defeat to Del Mar.

Friday's contest, set for 3:15 p.m. at Diesner Field, is the final non-league tune-up for boys teams prior to the start of Santa Clara Valley Athletic League play.

Homestead's defeat by Leland last Saturday night at Diesner marked the first career coaching victory for 1995 Homestead graduate Jason Tenner, Leland's first-year head coach.

Leland set the tone early, scoring the first time it got the ball, then taking advantage of Homestead mistakes and building a 27-0 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Leland made it 33-0 on a 90-yard interception return.

Shamir Ross, a speedy 5-foot-7 junior, accounted for Homestead's only touchdown, an 18-yard run around right end with 4:20 left in the game. Maoz Friedman kicked the extra point.

Earlier, Ross had given Homestead great field position to start the game when he returned the opening kick-off 40 yards to midfield. But three plays gained just three yards and forced the Mustangs to punt.

Leland went up 27-0 in the first half, though, and rolled from there to the win.

Hard-hitting senior linebacker Tom Andrews led the Mustangs' defense, getting in on 10 tackles. Other defenders making plays were Jay Atkins, Brian Backo, Alex Jones, Matthew Power, Caleb Wilcox, John da Silva, Brandon Voss, Ryan Candaso and Tim Hamel.

Leland was successful holding down the Mustangs potent running attack. Atkins gained 34 yards on 12 carries and Backo managed just 10 yards on eight carries. Homestead's top rushers were not starters. Ross picked up 29 yards on four carries and back-up quarterback Alex Jones gained 31 yards on four runs.

Jones also completed 5 of 9 passes for 49 yards, all in the fourth quarter when he was alternating with Gareth Pack. After completing 4 of 7 passes for 51 yards in the first half, Pack finished 6 for 17 for 68 yards.

Ross had three catches for 19 yards and Wilcox had two grabs for 19. Senior Tony Del Vecchio received a 14-yarder from Jones.

Vikes get even, then fall

The passing combination of senior newcomers Cory Williams and Richard Smith connected for a scintillating 69-yard touchdown play midway through the third quarter, but not much else went well for Lynbrook's offense during a 12-6 loss Friday night at Prospect.

After a scoreless first half, highlighted by solid defense and sloppy offense from both sides, running back Melvin Hutcherson put Prospect ahead 6-0 with a one-yard run early in the third quarter. Williams, a quarterback at Leland High in 2004, gave Lynbrook its first points of the season later in the period.

Two plays after Williams hit Smith with a quick slant-in pass that gained 11 yards and a first down, the duo brought the Vikings' fans to their feet. Smith, a 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver who transferred from Chico, was split to the left, near his team's sideline. At the snap, he sprinted straight upfield, beating two defenders and looking Williams' neatly thrown ball into his hands. Never breaking stride, the fleet Smith outran the defense into the end zone.

Faulke Verwer kicked the extra point, but it was wiped out by a five-yard penalty because the Vikings did not have the required seven players on the line of scrimmage. Verwer's next attempt narrowly missed to the left and the score remained tied at 6.

Hutcherson scored the decisive touchdown with just 2:29 left in the game. His 16-yard jaunt off left tackle about a minute after a short punt from the back of the end zone gave Prospect the ball at Lynbrook's 20.

Although the Vikings returned the ensuing kick-off to their 40, they did not threaten during their final possession. Prospect defenders sacked Williams for long losses on first and second downs, then pressured the Viking QB into misfiring on two long passes on third and fourth down.

Both offenses were slowed down throughout the contest by penalties and the opposing defense. Leading Lynbrook's charge throughout the game were linebackers Brian Cramer and Kevin Rahbar.

Lynbrook hosts Saratoga on Friday at 3:15 p.m. Like Lynbrook, Saratoga has dropped its first two games, 49-30 to San Mateo and 49-19 to Pioneer.

Cupertino loses

In a role reversal from last year's non-league victory at Hillsdale of San Mateo, Cupertino defenders spent much of Saturday night chasing Hillsdale's Wesley Price. The Hillsdale senior ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns during a 26-13 victory at Cupertino.

A year ago, Cupertino racked up 436 rushing yards and won 27-12, as Bronson Farr ran roughshod over Hillsdale. The former Pioneer standout racked up 333 yards and three scores.

The Pioneers, now 1-1, play their third straight home game on Friday at 7 p.m. against Evergreen Valley (1-1).

Junior fullback Scott Savory, who opened the season with two touchdowns in Cupertino's 22-0 victory over Sobrato, scored another against Hillsdale. Junior Max Ingraham booted two field goals, including a 35-yarder, and an extra point.

Quarterback Yuekai Yu completed eight passes for 157 yards, including four to Travis Scibetta for 71 yards. Scibetta also ran three reverses for 22 yards.

Cupertino senior Gonzalo Garcia had a good game on both sides of the ball. He was the team's top rusher with 30 yards on just four carries, and he paced the defense with eight tackles, including two sacks. David Warren, Jimmy Trask and Mikey Bednar all helped on six tackles.