SPORTS

Mustangs trounce Gunderson 34-8 in football home opener

Mustangs combine to rush for 271 yards; Foley tossed two TD passes

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The Pioneer Mustangs opened their 2005 football season with a convincing 34-8 win over Gunderson in the annual Bell Game played at Pioneer High on Sept. 2.

Pioneer quarterback Chris Foley helped the offense move down the field with his arm, completing six of eight passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-8 win over Gunderson in the annual Bell Game on Sept. 2. The win also marked the first night game in school history. Photo by Kevin Jones of www.johub.com.

In addition to the win, the game also marked another milestone—the first-ever night game played at Pioneer high school.

“It was an exciting atmosphere and the place was packed,” said Pioneer Head Coach Mark Krail. “Our team played OK. Offensively we were pretty solid, we make some penalties that stopped a couple of drives, but other than that, I’m really proud of the guys. It was a good first effort.”

For the Mustangs, the win saw the offense operate with efficiency, rushing for a combined total of 271 yards while also generating some offense through the air, getting 95 yards passing and two touchdowns from quarterback Chris Foley.

Meanwhile, the defense managed to hold the Grizzlies scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter, despite allowing 304 yards rushing to Gunderson. Grizzlies starting running back Javier Yepiz was particularly effective against the Pioneer defense, gaining 133 yards rushing on 24 carries and scoring the only touchdown of the night for the visiting squad with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter.

“Pioneer plays real well as a team and that’s probably the bottom line,” Gunderson head coach Chuck Ball said. “I felt that we’re a lot better than the last match-ups the past two years; we’re playing a lot better. But they run that offense and defense with all 11 guys working together real well and we’re still trying to put all the pieces together.”
The Mustang offense came out of the gates quickly, scoring on their opening drive of the game with a seven-play, 64-yard effort to take a 6-0 lead. Pioneer running back Shaun Souza capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run with 9:32 left in the first quarter, the first of two rushing touchdowns on the night for the senior.

Overall, Souza finished the night with 93 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns to lead his team.

“The running game was pretty solid,” Krail said, citing the running efforts of Nick D’Antonio, Jerry Barnes and Dan Landucci as well as Souza’s performance. “ … They all had their chances and they all performed quite well.”

The Mustangs went on to score twice more before the end of the first half, getting a 31-yard touchdown pass from Foley to wide receiver J.J. Goulden with 1:55 left in the first quarter before getting an 8-yard run from fullback Jon Silva for another touchdown with 8:28 left in the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead into halftime.

Pioneer running back Shaun Souza cuts through the line for a run during a 34-8 win over Gunderson on Sept. 2. Souza finished the night with 93 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the win. Photo by Ron Reed

Krail said the addition of a potent passing game, led by Foley’s six of eight passing effort for 95 yards and two touchdowns, will make the Mustang offense more dangerous in 2005.

“We’re hoping to keep people honest a little bit with that part of the game,” Krail said. “Chris has matured and worked hard at it and we’re very proud of that. We’ll keep building.”

Meanwhile, the Mustang defense continued to play bend-but-don’t-break football, allowing the Grizzlies’ rushing attack to go deep into Pioneer territory twice in the first half and once more in the third quarter before Gunderson broke through with a 12-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run from Yepiz with 5:11 left in the game.

The Grizzlies had chances to score earlier on in the game, driving the ball during their second offensive series of the game down to the Pioneer 17, only to be rebuffed when fullback Jesse Trotter was stopped 1 yard short of the first-down marker on fourth and 2.

The Grizzlies stalled again in the third quarter, driving the ball down to the Pioneer 25 before getting stopped on fourth and 4 with a run that once again fell 1 yard short of a fresh set of downs.

“When it really counted and we needed to make a stop, we did,” said Pioneer defensive coordinator Eric Perry.

“We had a couple of penalties on the defensive side of the ball that hurt us as well. We’ve got a lot of work to do obviously. We’re going to see some pretty good opponents coming up and we’ve got to play a little better on the defensive side of the ball.”

The Pioneer offense put the game out of reach quickly in the second half, getting a 3-yard touchdown run from Souza with 2:01 left in the third quarter before Foley added to his game totals with his second touchdown of the game, a 13-yard pass that found Goulden once more with 10:15 left in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs will face Menlo-Atherton next on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. It is the first road game of the year for the Mustangs. For a complete schedule of 2005 Pioneer football, go to www.phsathletics.com or www.bval.org.

Sports Briefs

Central Valley Edge holds youth soccer tryouts
CV Edge, a Class 3/U-17 girls’ soccer team, is offering Monday/Wednesday tryouts to girls born after 7/31/88 for the fall season for all positions. Contact Patty Rashid (408) 267-2740 or Ary Afsari at (408) 507-7008 for more information.

South Valley Lacrosse Chiefs offers free clinic Oct. 15; spring league registration opens Sept. 15
South Valley Lacrosse Chiefs are offering a free clinic for kids in grades three through eight on Oct.15 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kirk Park in San Jose. 

The Chiefs are adding a seventh/eighth grade team in spring, 2005. The free clinic gives newcomers a chance to try the sport before they purchase equipment (loaner sticks available on first-come, first-served basis). So bring a friend and come have some fun with lacrosse.

All interested lacrosse players: online registration for our spring league will open Sept. 15 and continue through Nov. 30.  See www.svlax.com and contact joy.bender@prodigy.net with questions.

Almaden Metro holds soccer tryouts
Almaden Metro Class 3, U-17 boys, is holding tryouts for fall season most Sundays. Date of birth after 7/31/88. Contact Jeff Earl at (408) 268-5125 or jesvo11@yahoo.com.

BU-12 Select Soccer team is looking for a goalie
Almaden Valley Storm, a Class 1, U-12 boys’ select soccer team, is looking for a full-time goalkeeper. Last year, the Almaden Storm advanced to the round of 16 in state cup and was knocked out by one of the teams that went to the finals. This year, we hope to win the cup.  If you have a son who wants to play goalie full time and has had some comp or select level playing experience, feel free to come to our Tuesday and Thursday practices. The age group for BU12 is 08/01/93 to 7/31/94 (or younger, if he is good goal-keeper).  Contact Mo Bani-Taba for location and times at (408) 221-5377 or mbanitaba@yahoo.com.

U-15 comp girls’ soccer team needs a goalie
Almaden Phoenix, a Class 3, comp U-15 girls soccer team, needs a full-time goalie. We have an extremely good team put together for the fall season—two goalie coaches. Must be born after 8/1/90. Please contact Scott Hoyt at 408-323-7803 or shoyt@cinnabarhills.com.

Strikkers softball tryouts for fall
16U Strikkers fall team tryouts are on Sept. 21 and 28 at Pioneer High School. Pitchers/catchers, 9 a.m.; position players, 10:30 a.m. Contact Ernie Garcia (408) 281-7855 for more information.

10U, 12U, 14U Strikkers fall team tryouts are on Sept. 21 and 28 at Pioneer High School. Pitchers/catchers, 12:30 p.m.; position players, 2 p.m. Contact Ernie Garcia (408) 281-7855 for more information.
For more information about the Strikkers, go to www.strikkers.org.

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Varsity field hockey at Willow Glen Tournament, time TBA.
Friday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Reno, NV Tournament, time TBA
Friday – Varsity boys’ water polo at Thousand Oaks Tournament, all day

Saturday – Varsity field hockey at Willow Glen Tournament, time TBA.
Saturday – Varsity football vs. Lincoln, 1:15 p.m.
Saturday – Frosh/soph football vs. Lincoln, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Reno, NV Tournament, time TBA
Saturday – Varsity boys’ water polo at Thousand Oaks Tournament, all day

Monday – Varsity field hockey vs. Presentation, 3 p.m.
Monday – JV field hockey vs. Presentation, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Girls’ tennis vs. Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Live Oak, 6 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ volleyball at Live Oak, 5 p.m.

Wednesday – Varsity field hockey at Willow Glen, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – JV field hockey at Willow Glen, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday – Cross country vs. Evergreen and Silver Creek at Monterey Hill, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity field hockey at Los Altos, 3 p.m.
Thursday – JV field hockey at Los Altos, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday – Girls’ tennis vs. Silver Creek, 3:15 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Saturday – Varsity football at Menlo-Atherton, 2 p.m.
Saturday – Frosh/soph football at Menlo-Atherton, 11 a.m.

Monday – JV girls’ volleyball at Sobrato, 5:30 p.m.
Monday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Sobrato, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. Mission, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Girls tennis at Silver Creek, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ volleyball vs. Notre Dame, 5 p.m.

Thursday – JV girls’ volleyball at Silver Creek, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity girls’ volleyball at Silver Creek, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Girls’ tennis vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:15 p.m.

Pioneer Athletics: http://www.phsathletics.com
Leland Athletics: http://www.lelandathletics.com
Blossom Valley Athletic League: http://www.bval.org

Game of inches

Leland football sees opportunities slip away in 18-13 season-opening loss at home

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

For the first two quarters of Leland football’s season-opening game against Santa Clara, things appeared to be going right.

Leland running back Lance Gemette finds a hole in the line to run through in an 18-13 loss to Santa Clara on Sept. 3. Gemette finished the game with 18 yards rushing and helped contribute to the Charger running attack, which amassed 194 yards on the ground overall. Photo courtesy www.mikejanes.com.

The offense moved methodically and productively, scoring two touchdowns in the first half. The defense held the Santa Clara Bruins at bay, allowing two touchdowns but holding a one-point lead at 13-12.

Then things began to go wrong in the second half.

The Chargers, leading 13-12 at the half, could not match their first-half execution on offense and defense as the Bruins took an 18-13 win at Pat Tillman Field on Sept. 3.

The Charger offense, which scored two out of the three times it reached Bruins territory in the first half, could not muster a single point in the second half, despite getting as close as the Bruin 22 and reaching Santa Clara Territory four out of five offensive series in the second half.

“We’re not a good enough team to make the amount of mental mistakes that we made today,” said Jason Tenner of the loss in his head-coaching debut for the Chargers. “Our defense played well at spots and in the second half they gave us a chance to get back into it, but offensively, we just made way too many mental mistakes.”

The first quarter started out with promise for the Chargers, who took advantage of a 58-yard run by Steven Ruel on the first play on offense to put together a 66-yard, four-play scoring drive capped by a one-touchdown run from Nick Mortensen with 10:04 left.

The Chargers’ 7-0 lead quickly turned into a 12-7 deficit as the Bruins struck back with a 54-yard drive that led to a touchdown with 10:54 to go in the second quarter, followed by a five-play, 75-yard drive ending with a 39-yard touchdown run with 2:15 left in the first half.

But the Leland offense showed promise as the first half drew to a close, taking the ball from the Charger 25 and driving it 75 yards for a touchdown with 40.7 seconds left.

Chargers quarterback Kyle Walker was a key player on the drive, finding open receivers for three completions, including a 10-yard touchdown strike to Ruel. Earlier, Walker had thrown the ball only once the entire game but on the scoring drive, he completed three of five passes for 43 yards and finished the night with a six-of-13 performance with 61 yards passing overall.

“We’re really fortunate to have (Kyle) Walker,” said Leland fullback Kevin Battipede. “I’ve just noticed that Walker’s arm has gotten a lot stronger and he’s gotten a lot more accurate with a lot more zip on it.”

The second half opened with the Bruins retaking the lead, putting together a four-play, 79-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 58-yard run from running back Justice Patterson for an 18-13 edge.

From that point on it was a game of inches—literally—for the Chargers.

On their first drive of the second half, the Chargers drove the ball from their own 29 down to the Bruin 27 before stalling out, getting a run from Mortensen on fourth and 3 that missed the first down marker by a mere couple of inches.

On a drive that began near the end of the third quarter, the Chargers drove the ball from the Bruin 41 following an interception by Adam Ondi, to the Bruin 22, only to see a Walker pass skim off the fingertips of an outstretched Lance Gemette on fourth and 3.

Once more, with 1:53 left on the clock, the Chargers came back out on offense with one last chance to make things happen. Once more, the drive ended unceremoniously when Walker completed a pass to Mortensen on fourth and 6, missing the first-down marker by inches.

“There were some good things, but there wasn’t enough consistency,” Tenner said.

“We’ve got to be better at the little things, and that’s what I told them …We’ve got to be better and we will be.”

The Chargers will face Lincoln next on Sept. 10 at 1:15 p.m. in their second home game of the season. For a complete schedule of 2005 Leland football, go to www.lelandathletics.com or www.bval.org.

Almaden Mustangs get ready to tackle
2005 Pop Warner Football season

Local squad now practices and plays games at Pioneer
because of unsettled differences with Leland

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The reigning Peninsula Pop Warner Football champions are back in action.

The Almaden Mustangs, a local football team in the Almaden Pop Warner Football league, are back together for another season with high expectations. A year removed from winning the Peninsula Pop Warner championship, which earned the team a trip to the Pacific-Northwest Pop Warner championships in Reno, the Mustangs are stronger, wiser, one year older and have moved up a level into the Junior Midget level.

For Mustangs Head Coach Kevin Jones, who has coached the team for the past six years, the 2005 season will be the most challenging to date for his team as it tries to replicate last season’s successful run.

From left, Almaden Mustangs Vinnie Gemette, Alex Gonzalez, Conor Jones and Ryan Smith pose for the camera during a Sept. 2 practice at Pioneer High School. The four players have played football together on the same team since the age of 7. Photo by Diego Abeloos

“It’s been great to see them develop and grow into young men,” said Jones, whose son Conor also plays on the team. “They’re a special group of athletes.”

But the move into the Junior Midget level has Jones concerned. Jones said that his team thrived last year in part because of the size and strength of the players on his roster. The successful season resulted in a trip to Reno for the Pacific-Northwest Pop Warner championships, where the team lost 20-0 on a field that was covered in 7 inches of snow, a game Jones refers to as the “snow bowl.”

Jones said this season will be more challenging for the Mustangs because the rest of the league has caught up to his team in terms of strength and growth.

“It’s going to pose a real challenge,” Jones said. “The fact that we went as far as we did last year is good and encouraging, but this is the toughest division in Pop Warner because you’ve got kids who are potentially looking at their last year of playing before going on to high school. These are good athletes.”

Jones said that while many players on his team have been together since he started coaching, giving the coaching staff a group of seasoned players to work with, there are also challenges within his team, namely the addition of new players with little playing experience.

“We have a core of kids that we’ve had for all those years, but we have just as many core kids as we have brand new kids who have never played the game,” Jones said. “That’s a real swing of experience that we have to spend the time to train those kids and coach those kids and teach them the game of football.”

Perceived slight sees team move to Pioneer
A new level of competition and the addition of new players isn’t the only thing that’s new with Jones’ team. Last season, the team was known as the Almaden Chargers, in homage to Leland High School, where the team practiced and played several games last year.

This season, Jones, who provides the Times with photos of Leland and Pioneer athletics as a freelance photographer, moved his team over to Pioneer High and renamed his squad the Almaden Mustangs because of what Jones said was a slight by Leland Principal Bob Setterlund and Athletic Director Chris Hansen. Jones said that when he was deciding on where to place his team for the 2005 season, he placed several phone calls to Hansen and Setterlund that were never returned.

Jones said he needed a decision and decided to place his team at Pioneer when the school’s athletic director and varsity football coach, Mark Krail, offered the use of school athletic facilities to the Pop Warner team.

“Unfortunately, Leland didn’t want us there anymore,” Jones said. “It’s unfortunate because that’s our community school, that’s really where we belong. You don’t want to be where somebody doesn’t want you and that was the case. It’s just unfortunate that the administration, starting with the principal down to their AD, doesn’t understand their role in the community and the importance of youth sports. We were trying to feed their football program with talented athletes and now, maybe that happens and maybe it doesn’t. These kids have choices.”

Jones said that Leland head Football Coach Jason Tenner was the only person at Leland to reach out to him and his team in an attempt to keep the program on Leland grounds.

“He, at the 11th hour, when he realized what was happening, jumped in to see what he could do to save the program from leaving Leland,” Jones said of Tenner.

“Unfortunately, we had to make a decision. Phone calls were not returned, e-mails were not returned to meet and discuss and work out the details. We had to make a decision. The league needed to know where we were playing … It was too late.”

The Leland administration, in a prepared statement given by Assistant Principal of Activities Paul Yllana to the Times, said this:

“Leland High School commits itself to working with the community on the use of our facilities,” the statement read.

“However, Leland also commits itself to protecting the investment of the taxpayers of this community. All groups we work with must respect the facilities with regard to safety and upkeep, as well as respecting the community adjacent to the school.”

Although Jones isn’t happy with the situation at Leland, he said the move to Pioneer has been a smooth and happy transition.

“I have to say that we’re over here at Pioneer and we couldn’t be happier,” Jones said. “Mark Krail has welcomed us with open arms. I think he understands the importance of this program and it’s done, we’re here, we’re now the Mustangs and we have no regrets.”

Shooting high

Pioneer volleyball aims for West Valley championship

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Pioneer volleyball captains Heidi Isaacson and Katie Town revealed Tuesday they aim to overpower West Valley Division challengers by shooting for the wall.

Pictured at left: Captains Heidi Isaacson, left, and Katie Town, right, say Pioneer has the tools to make history by becoming the first Mustang squad this decade, to win a league championship and have their year embroidered into the girls’ volleyball banner, suspended high above the gym.

Since 1982, according to junior Isaacson and Town, the senior stud, Pioneer has immortalized league champions in each sport, by stitching victors’ year numbers on individual banners suspended high above the floor in the Mustangs gym on Blossom Hill Road.

Yet, Pioneer strikers have yet to represent the schools’ growing girls’ volleyball program.

“People are always going to be like ‘wow, that team was really awesome,” said Town of the honor. “It’s our dream to get up on the wall.”

Last season, Coach Michelle Ritter came painstakingly close, guiding a youthful group to second place in C-League competition. The girls finished 9-3, flourishing under the leadership of graduated senior Stephanie Morales.

“Stephanie was a really great setter,” reminisced Ritter. “She was our best player.”

Pioneer felt Morales’ absence in the team’s opening games this past week. Badgering A-league opponents, first Woodside, then Willow Glen, the Mustangs dropped six straight sets, earning a quick, and tall, two tallies in the loss column.

“They could have watered us,” explained Isaacson, concerning the Mustangs’ complacent efforts. “We had roots in the floor like trees.”

Shady defense doesn’t cloud hopes of reaching the wall.

“I am reserving judgment until we play in a couple more games,” said Ritter. “We’ve literally had three practices. We’re still figuring out our line-up, trying them on the right side and then the left. I scheduled preseason games against everybody and anybody above us. So even if it’s a hard game, it makes us better.”

Morales’ departure left Ritter to call upon juniors Caroline Kanzaki and Mae Limskun to share setting duties
“They are both fast and listen well,” commented Ritter. “They are working hard. They should do well.”

Captains Town and Isaacson are dependable and, at times, stars. While the latter is known more for leading by example, a workhorse according to Ritter, Town is vocal and active. She led the Mustangs’ kill boards versus Woodside and Willow Glen, driving seven to the floor.

Sophomore Danielle Clough is off to a solid start as well, making her presence known with assists to veteran Town.

“Danny is hitting well from the right side,” said Ritter. “She is also serving well.”

Clough, like many Mustangs this year, doubles as a softball standout.

“The girls are all good athletes,” explained Ritter. “We don’t have any girls who play on club teams, but they all play multiple sports.”

Don’t miss the Mustangs versus Gunderson on October 4 at Gunderson. The first half game will likely determine who controls the West Valley Division race in 2005.

“We’re rivals,” said Ritter. “And they looked good at the scrimmage.”

In the meantime, the Mustangs travel to Sobrato on Monday, Sept. 12, before returning home to face Notre Dame of Belmont on Sept. 14.

“This is the year,” finished Town. “We are a lot closer as a group. It’s been since like ’82 since we’ve been on the wall. That’s our goal.”

For more information, please visit www.pioneerhigh.org.

Inaugural ‘Run to Remember 9/11’ gains steam

Registrations for Race Day Swell as Groundbreaking Race Gains Momentum

The first annual “Run to Remember 9-11,” will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2005 in San Francisco.

Participants in the 10k/5k race will run and walk along San Francisco’s picturesque Embarcadero on a course that will range from Pier 39 to SBC Park. Proceeds from the race will benefit Team Bingham and the Tom Burnett Family Foundation, organizations established in memory of Mark Bingham and Tom Burnett, two Bay Area residents who lost their lives on September 11 aboard Flight 93.

Registrations have been steadily increasing as September 11 draws near and are currently being accepted on the official race Web site: www.r2r911.org.

“We envisioned an event that would provide people with an active and life affirming opportunity show their support,” remarked Richard Martinez, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Pacific West Productions. “Since September 11 falls on a Sunday this year, we thought this would be an excellent opportunity to launch an event for people who have been looking for a different way to honor the memory of those who perished on that awful day.”

The Run to Remember 9/11 has compiled an impressive array of sponsorships, community support and support from the City of San Francisco. Presenting Sponsor Fidelity Investments is joined by official Race Media Sponsor CBS 5’s Sports Director, Dennis O’Donnell and Weather Anchor, Roberta Gonzales, who will also be this year’s Co-Masters of Ceremony.

“We are really encouraged by the level of support for this event thus far,” said Martinez, “it is clear from the response that a lot of people have been looking for an event that will serve as a visual show of strength and a celebration of life – and we are working hard to make this event just that.”

Founded in April 2002, Pacific West Athletics is a “fitness lifestyle” organization providing comprehensive multi-sport endurance training to Bay Area athletes. Our members range greatly in levels of ability and experience. Many are graduates of existing charity endurance training programs designed for the beginner athlete.

Share your news

Do you have a sports story to share? Contact the sports department at 494-7000 x 217 or by e-mail at diego@timesmediainc.com or fax to Almaden Times Sports at 494-7078.