Falcon football takes off in opener

The Scotts Valley Falcons kicked off the 2011 football season with a 22-15 victory over host Capital Christian School in Sacramento on September 3. The long road to victory started with a broken down Falcon bus on Highway 17 to start the trip to Sacramento. Upon arriving at Del Oro High School, the temperature had reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
Falcon running backs Colin Corbella, Alex Benko, Ari Wargon and Victor Passanisi combined for over 180 yards and two touchdowns in the Battle at the Capital, a non-profit fundraiser for wounded veterans that hosts a golf tournament and a number of Pop Warner and high school football games.
The Falcons jumped to the lead on the second possession as senior quarterback Jack Pasquini drove Scotts Valley to the Cougars 5-yard line before Benko punched in the 5-yard touchdown. The point after kick failed.
“I was really proud of Jack in his first start on varsity,” Falcon Head Coach Louie Walters said. “He did a good job being cool and collected and directing traffic out there. He looked like a seasoned field general.”
The Falcons third offensive series resulted in a 4-yard pass from Pasquini to sophomore receiver Joe Gillette. The two point conversion attempt then failed.
Capital Christian running back Demitri Cranshaw broke free for a 34 yard touchdown to put his team on the board. He finished with 123 yards on 16 carries.
“Any time you play these private schools you are in for a battle,” Walters said. “Our platoon of running backs looked great as did Joe Gillette, our sophomore receiver.”
Scotts Valley wrapped up the first half with a 34 yard field goal from all-state kicker Noah Beito to finish the first half on top 15-7.
The third quarter belonged almost entirely to the Cougars as they drug out a nearly nine minute drive eating up the clock. Cougar fullback Bo Reid hammered in a 3-yard plunge to score the final touchdown for Capital Christian who would follow it up with a successful two point conversion to tie the score at 15.
The Falcons scored in the final minute of the third quarter as Passanisi ran 29 yards for a touchdown putting away the Cougars for good.
A scoreless fourth quarter was highlighted by a couple of big fourth downs for both teams.
First, Scotts Valley senior linebacker Ryan Wortman barreled through a gap on a blitz and drilled Cranshaw behind the line on a fourth and two, causing the turnover on downs. Second, Scotts Valleys Corbella plunged through the Cougar line on a Falcon fourth and one, picking up five yards and a first down allowing Scotts Valley the opportunity to run out the clock.
Corbella led the team with 112 yards on 14 carries.
The Falcons host Central Coast Section semi finalist Half Moon Bay on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. at Scotts Valley High.