September 14, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Line play is big in Palo Alto's win

by Keith Peters

The Palo Alto football team was pretty much embarrassed in its season opener one year ago, a lopsided loss to host Burlingame. As far as the Vikings are concerned, it's payback time.

Fresh from a 33-7 victory over visiting Carlmont last week to open the 2005 season, Palo Alto (1-0) will host Burlingame (1-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers are coming off a 35-27 triumph over Riordan on Saturday.

The Vikings will offer a different look to Burlingame this week, most notably at quarterback where junior Nick Goodspeed has replaced the veteran Nathan Ford. It was Ford at the controls in 2004 when Burlingame pinned a 35-6 season-opening loss on the Vikings, who went on to reach the Central Coast Section playoffs and finish 8-4.

Goodspeed, however, has the benefit of being protected by a bigger and more experienced line - anchored by the likes of senior guard Tim Currie (6-2, 207), junior guard Fred Koloto (6-4, 265), junior tackle Will Elmore (6-4, 270), junior tackle Uly Morales (6-4, 290) and junior center John Stirrat (6-0, 180).

Said Paly head coach Earl Hansen, the offensive line "is bigger, stronger and a year more experienced."

The play by Paly's line showed well against Carlmont as the Vikings ran for 188 yards and gave Goodspeed time to complete 11 of 19 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown in his varsity debut.

More importantly, Hansen said, "We didn't allow a sack. They (the line) definitely took pressure off him (Goodspeed) . . . He was very good in his first outing."

As was junior Will Frazier, who showed why he was the frosh-soph MVP of the SCVAL De Anza Division last season by leading the Vikings' ground game with 73 yards on 12 carries. He scored on a 28-yard run, which followed Cooper Miller's 14-yard scoring reception from Goodspeed. That gave Paly a 13-0 lead, which held up.

The Vikings' defense took it from there, with defensive backs Dennis Pruzan and Maurice Williams intercepting passes and joining with Brad Lehman and Trenton Hart in holding Carlmont to zero completions and 149 total yards.
SH Prep 27, Menlo 19

The Gators (1-1) will be looking to improve upon their first win of the season when they travel to face Mills on Friday in a nonleague game at 3:30 p.m. The Knights (0-2) will play their home opener Saturday against Mountain View (1-0) at 2 p.m.

Based on its big win over Menlo last Friday at Woodside High, Sacred Heart Prep has a solid running game to work with this season. The Gators produced 297 rushing yards (on 52 carries) as Dillon Chambers (22 carries for 122 yards) and Matt Connor (10 for 107) both surpassed the 100-yard mark.

Connor's 46-yard run with 6:18 left in the fourth quarter capped 21 unanswered points by the Gators after Menlo had rushed to a 19-6 lead on runs of four and three yards by Jon Kirst and 16 yards by Anthony Bouvier.

Connor's contribution was extra special for coach Pete Lavorato. Connor, a junior, suffered a broken hip in July and appeared lost for the season. In six weeks, however, Connor was ready to go. He made his season debut on offense against Menlo, gaining all of his 107 yards in the final two quarters as SHP controlled the game on the ground and kept the ball out of the Knights' hands.

SHP quarterback Pat Coffey didn't need to generate a lot of offense through the air, but did complete seven of nine passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns - both to Eric Cowell.

Mtn. View 34, Gunn 7

The good news for the Titans (0-1), following their lopsided season-opening loss last Friday, is their next opponent. Gunn visits Carlmont (0-1) on Friday at 3:15 p.m. The Scots generated only 149 total yards in their 33-7 loss to Palo Alto last week, gaining zero yards through the air.

Gunn, meanwhile, allowed Mountain View 216 rushing yards and 159 passing. The Titans' defense, obviously, needs to be better this week along with their passing game. Junior quarterback Tucker Laurence was just four of 14 (with one interception) for 77 yards against the Eagles.

Gunn trailed by 21-0 when Laurence scored on a nine-yard run in the second quarter, two plays after hitting Bryan Ziebelman on a 40-yard pass play. Cory Babbington gained 95 yards rushing to lead a Gunn ground game that produced 181 yards.

Pioneer 35, Menlo-Atherton 6

M-A coach Gregg Patner has to hope his young team has gotten first-game jitters out of the way heading into Saturday's nonleague game against visiting Capuchino (0-1) at 2 p.m. The Bears (0-1) made too many mistakes in their season-opening loss at home to Pioneer, most of them coming on motion penalties. The topper came late in the game when the Bears' mascot was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"We had a lot of turnovers, and a lot of penalties that put us into a big disadvantage," Patner said.

On the bright side, senior Noah Bennett was an offensive spark for M-A with eight catches for a career-high 166 yards - including a 25-yard scoring reception from junior quarterback Efalame Wolfgramm in the fourth quarter.

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