The San Lorenzo Valley Cougars return home this weekend to face another big-school opponent, and try and remain unbeaten in non-conference play.
In Cupertino last Friday, the Cougars turned back a surge from the Homestead Mustangs for a thrilling come-from-behind 35-34 victory that saw stellar performances on both sides of the ball.
On Saturday, they face a Santa Clara opponent coming off a 45-28 non-league win over Jefferson of Daly City. Game time is 2 p.m. at the SLV field in Felton.
Wide receiver Joe Oard and quarterback Tanner Murray continued to rack up their yardage and scoring statistics in the preseason against Homestead.
Oard set a school-record 254 yards receiving, and scored two touchdowns, one of them a 70-yarder. He broke Matty Kiel’s mark of 239 yards set against Watsonville in 2004.
Murray passed for 380 yards, thanks to big-play catches by Oard and Jackson Turner.
Murray passed for three touchdowns and ran for two others.
Turner was a standout on offense and defense, as was running back Scott Poetzinger. The two teamed up to tackle a Homestead running back in the end zone for a safety, which proved to be the victory margin. Jack Gentry also would recover a fumble.
When Homestead scored late in the game after a fumble deep in Cougar territory, the Cougar defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt – another possible game-changer.
San Lorenzo Valley responded with the final score of the game with time running out.
The home team would make one last run, driving to the SLV 30-yard line, but missed a possible winning field goal with 50 seconds left.
