Football: Falcons defeat Willow Glen for first win of season

The Falcons come from behind to win, but they also lose a key defensive player to injury

After a rocky start to the 2013 season, the Falcons got their first win of the season against the Willow Glen Rams 40-37 on Sept. 20.

The Falcons started off the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jonathan Walters to senior wide receiver Travis Stokes. The Rams blocked the extra point, which made the score 6-0 Falcons.

After getting the ball back, the Falcons punted it away, and the Rams took advantage of their next offensive possession. They scored a 78-yard passing touchdown, but also missed the extra point, tying the game up at 6-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, senior wide receiver Grant Faylor took the ball all the way to the Rams’ two-yard line, setting up the Falcons for another touchdown. However, turnovers hurt the Falcons as they fumbled the ball on the next play, giving it right back to the Rams. The Rams took advantage of this opportunity and scored a 62-yard running touchdown. They executed on a two-point conversion to make the game 14-6 Rams.

After the Falcons punted the ball away, the Rams scored another long passing touchdown, making the score 21-6 after the extra point.

On their next offensive series, the Falcons meticulously moved the ball down the field and capped the drive off with a bruising 6-yard touchdown run from Walters, and after the extra point, the score was 21-13 Rams.

On the next defensive series, senior outside linebacker Davis Berryhill intercepted the Rams’ pass, but the Falcons turned the ball right back over to the Rams, ending the first half with a score of 21-13 Willow Glen.

After playing stingy defense, the Falcons got the ball back and on their first offensive series of the second half, they drove the ball 93 yards and ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jacob Marr. After missing the two-point conversion, the Falcons trailed 21-19. The Rams scored a field goal on their next possession, making the score 24-19.

The Falcons continued their offensive explosion with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Walters to junior receiver Joey Medeiros. After another failed two point conversion, the Falcons again had the lead 25-24.

After the Rams scored another touchdown, the Falcons answered back with a rushing touchdown from junior running back Ken Wu and a two-point conversion pass from Walters to Medeiros giving the Falcons the lead 33-30. The Rams answered back with a rushing touchdown of their own and made the score 37-33.

With six minutes left, the Falcons drove the ball down the field and punctuated the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Walters to senior running back Jacob Camp, making the score 40-37 Falcons. The defense played well at the end and forced the Rams into turning the ball over on downs, sealing the win for Saratoga.

While the win was a needed one for Saratoga, it was bittersweet. Senior starting middle linebacker and defensive anchor Christian Lee suffered a season-ending injury, tearing his ACL and MCL.

After a bye week, the Falcons will host the Mountain View Spartans for the Homecoming game on Oct. 4 led by former Saratoga JV head coach and varsity defensive coordinator Shelly Smith.