SUNNYVALE — It was a brand new starting for Mountain View and The King’s Academy on the soccer subject Thursday night time.
After a future as Saratoga’s head coach, Tim Lugo traded in Falcons crimson for Mountain View black.
“It’s unusual trying within the mirror,” Lugo stated. “However I’m rejuvenated.”
Dante Perez, a former standout quarterback at Valley Christian within the 2000s, has taken over from Pete Lavorato at The King’s Academy.
With new leaders on the sidelines, the groups performed to a scoreless draw for greater than 1 / 4 on opening night time at TKA earlier than Mountain View started to take cost.
The Spartans scored two touchdowns earlier than halftime, the second on a 48-yard strike from Kevin Conway to Lex Silver with three seconds to spare, and went on to a season-opening 35-20 victory.
Conway, a 5-foot-11, 154-pound junior, threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 44 yards.
Mountain View additionally obtained 90 yards and two TDs in seven carries from junior Arturo Hernandez and 75 yards in 16 makes an attempt from sophomore Diego Ortega-Gerow. They carried a heavy load after beginning operating again Dillon Daniels was dinged up within the first half.
“I used to be simply pondering I've to step up,” Hernandez stated. “Our operating again was out, and I simply should do it for my staff.”
Hernandez practically moved out of the realm within the low season. The Spartans are grateful he didn't, particularly after watching him sprint 45 yards to the tip zone on his first carry. The third-quarter landing widened Mountain View’s result in 21-0.
After The King’s Academy lower the margin to 21-6, Hernandez crossed the purpose line once more, a 13-yard run that made it 28-6 early within the fourth quarter.
“We virtually misplaced him,” Lugo stated. “Starting of the yr, he stop coming round. We come again for the August exercises and he walks into the load room. It was like, What are you doing? I’m not shifting. It was large for us. He performs nice protection, he’s exhausting to dam. When Dillon went down, he ran like a No. 1 tonight.”
Drake Wilkening scored Mountain View’s closing landing, catching a 28-yard go from Conway on fourth-and-13.
Jeaden Underwood reached the tip zone twice for TKA, on a 1-yard run within the third quarter and a 7-yard run within the fourth. He completed with 70 yards in 16 carries.
However many of the house staff’s offense got here courtesy of 6-3, 185-pound senior receiver Tylek Barnett, who caught eight of Reid Black’s passes for 211 yards and a landing. Their 72-yard connection for a TD accomplished the scoring.
“First yr, it’s all about constructing our tradition,” Perez stated. “What I needed to see out of my guys, which I noticed, is that they fought all 4 quarters. We’re going to get again to the drafting board. We’re going to make our changes, and we preserve preventing.”
Lugo preferred that his quarterback didn’t make the identical mistake twice. After lacking a possible large go play, Conway threw the deep TD to Silver on the subsequent snap.
“I sort of learn the play flawed on the earlier play,” Conway stated. “Then scoring proper earlier than going into halftime, that simply boosted our morale “
Earlier than he exited, Daniels carried 12 occasions for 63 yards and a landing that broke the scoreless tie within the second quarter and despatched the Spartans on their option to victory.
“All the time wish to get (win) No. 1 out of the way in which, however opening on a Thursday is admittedly robust,” Lugo stated. “Quick week of follow, coming off a scrimmage. We don’t have a ton of movie to prepare. We felt like we’d have the ability to run the ball tonight. That was sort of the purpose coming in. There have been lots of positives popping out of tonight.”
Lugo spent 14 seasons as Saratoga’s head coach. He’d wish to final a decade at Mountain View.
“I’ve obtained 10 years left earlier than I retire,” Lugo stated. “That is the place I'm going to finish it. I've an ideal group of youngsters right here. This system is on the rise. It gave me the elevate I wanted on the finish of my profession to have some enjoyable — and we’re going to have some enjoyable.”
