The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Vikings are winners again, after 13 years

By Mike Barnhart

With his team clinging to a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the time on the scoreboard clock could not have moved any slower in the mind of Lynbrook football coach Ray Wright.

"We had to get rid of the streak," the coach said, referring to Lynbrook's 13 consecutive losing seasons, dating back to1994.

As the final three minutes played out last Friday night, Monta Vista quarterback Justin Rahn and his teammates seemed unfazed by a fierce rainstorm that had just blown in and blasted the Cupertino High School field. Determined to pull within one score and still have enough time to get the ball back, the Matadors stormed down the field.

"With about three minutes left, I prayed into the headset, 'Don't let this slip away,' " Wright recalled. "The coach upstairs laughed and the coach next to me winked and told me not to worry."

Rahn did get Monta Vista into the end zone with less than a minute remaining. Junior Nick Tong made a nice catch to complete a 20-yard scoring pass, but the Vikings recovered an onside kick attempt, ran out the clock and celebrated a 28-21 victory--their fourth in a row--with their long-suffering fans.

The Lynbrook fans have had plenty to cheer about this season. The win against Monta Vista improved the Vikings' record to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, where they are tied for first place with Saratoga with three games left on the schedule.

"Both teams were undefeated in league. They had some things to prove, and they proved them," Monta Vista coach Jeff Mueller said later. "Now we're up against it; somebody has to beat Lynbrook and somebody has to beat Saratoga for us to get back into it."

The Matadors (2-1-1, 3-3-1) will have an opportunity to defeat Saratoga on Oct. 27, 7 p.m. at Cupertino.

"Now we have to make this a winning season, and we definitely want to make the playoffs," said senior quarterback Greg Wallis, who overcame Monta Vista's blitzing defense by completing 12 of 21 passes for 152 yards, including a 40-yarder to tight end Andy Meunier that set up the Vikings' final touchdown.

Meunier, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound senior who has caught the eyes of several college coaches, laid out for a diving grab at Monta Vista's 5-yard line. Junior fullback Anthony Ferrario ran the ball in from there, Jim Baglanis kicked the extra point and for the second week in a row the Vikings had rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to score 28 unanswered points in the second half.

"When our kids get their backs pinned against the wall, somebody makes a play," noted Wright, in his second year as varsity head coach after two years at the helm of the frosh-soph squad.

Senior defensive back Ethan Brady made a momentum-changing play in the third quarter for Lynbrook. He cut in front of a receiver to make an interception along the left sideline and raced 20 yards for a touchdown and a 14-14 tie. Baglanis' first place kick of the evening was good, putting the Vikes ahead, 15-14.

Matt Moustakas' one-yard run in the first quarter and Drew Constant's first of three PAT kicks gave the Matadors (2-1-1, 3-3-1) their 7-0 halftime margin. On the first drive of the second half the Mats went up 14-0 on a 65-yard, Rahn-to-Billy Guardino pass play. It was Guardino's 12th touchdown of the season. Rahn's last-minute scoring toss to Tong was his15th of the year.

Later, Rahn ran a sprint-out for what appeared to be a 25-yard touchdown run and a 20-point lead, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty.

"We did some good things on offense, running for over 120 yards and passing for almost 200, but turnovers and inopportune penalties hurt us," Mueller said.

Trailing 14-0, two-way senior standout Scott Day put the Vikings on his 220-pound frame and triggered the comeback. His 5-yard scoring romp and ensuing run for a two-point conversion pulled the Vikings within 14-8.

"I knew Scott was going to score--I could see it in his eyes," Wallis said of Day's look in the huddle. "If I was on the other team, I would have been scared."

Running out of a full house backfield, Day followed lead blockers Ryan Tom and Ferrario through a hole on the right side created by Meunier, one of two tight ends on the play.

Then, after a pair of Matadors' offsides penalties moved the ball inside the 1, Wright decided to go for a two-point try instead of a one-point kick.

On Monta Vista's next possession, Brady's game-tying interception return--one of three picks by Lynbrook defenders--changed the complexion of the game.

Day, who ran the ball 21 times for 101 yards, threw a halfback option pass to Yas Sakurai for a fourth-quarter touchdown and a 22-14 lead. Sakurai did a good job getting a foot down in the back of the end zone for the score.

Junior outside linebacker Emre Titizer led Lynbrook's defense with 10 tackles, including a sack. Day, who made six stops and forced a fumble from his middle linebacker post, and senior teammate Brian Snyder intercepted passes to stop Monta Vista drives.

Linebacker Peter Kosulin, as usual, was all over the field for the Matadors, earning props from Wright, who also praised his own offensive line.

"They blitzed on almost every play," Wright said, "and our guys did a very nice job not giving up many sacks."

Center Ian Ing and guards Mark Tabarez, Bryant Chang and Caleb Tou provided the protection, along with tackles Joe Fernandez and Nikhil Jain and tight ends Meunier and Brady.

After spoiling Monta Vista's homecoming game, the Vikings will try to maintain their share of first place in its own homecoming against Fremont, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., at Cupertino.

The explosive Firebirds (1-2, 4-3), who will be looking to rebound from a 42-27 setback against Saratoga, prevented Lynbrook from earning a .500 season in 2006, with a three-point win in the final game of the season.

Gunn blanks 'Tino

It has been an extremely trying season for Cupertino and last Thursday night's game against visiting Gunn did not help matters.

The Titans, despite a 2-1 non-league record, entered the game winless in El Camino Division play. Although hampered by injuries and inexperience this year, the Pioneers were hoping to earn its first victory. It didn't happen.

Instead, the Titans scored three first-half touchdowns and captured the El Camino Division game 18-0. With the win, Gunn improved to 1-3 in division play and 3-4 overall.

Cupertino worked inside Gunn's 30-yard line twice in the fourth quarter, but was denied both times by quarterback sacks. With about five minutes remaining the first sack produced a fumble that was lost to the Titans. The other, with about two left, stopped the Pioneers on fourth down.

To avert a winless season, Cupertino (0-4, 0-7) must catch Los Altos, Fremont or Homestead napping during the final three weeks of the schedule.

The Eagles, who have lost all four of their De Anza Division games this season, will be looking to rise again in a non-league affair at Cupertino, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. A win would lift Los Altos to 4-4 overall.

It will be the last home game of the season for the Pioneers, who will play their last two games at Diesner Field in Sunnyvale.