Football focus: Falcons soar to 3-0, Cougars drop to 0-3 in preseason

Press Banner
Scotts Valley 23, Kings Academy 13
The Falcons move to 3-0 for the first time since 2006 after beating The Kings Academy of Sunnyvale 23-13 in non-league action. The Falcons recovered two opportune onside kicks and hit a wide open receiver on a half-back pass for an easy score.
Senior quarterback Jack Pasquini connected with sophomore receiver Joe Gillette for two touchdowns, one a 58 yard strike, and another from 14 yards out. Gillette finished the game with 98 yards receiving along with the two touchdowns. The final touchdown came on a pass from half back Collin Corbella who hit receiver Andrew Stumbo for a 48-yard touchdown.
Caleb Gomez scored the Knights two touchdowns, both from one yard out. The second score came in the fourth quarter to keep the The Kings Academy within 7 points, but a 17 yard field goal by Scotts Valley’s Noah Beito pushed the Falcons ahead by 10 to wrap up the scoring. The Falcons will test their mettle again with a pre-season finale against defending Central Coast Section division IV champion Sacred Heart Prep at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23 in Atherton. Sacred Heart Prep demolished San Lorenzo Valley 39-0 on Sept. 3.
Hillsdale 23, San Lorenzo Valley 16
The Cougars fell short once again and fell to 0-3 in the preseason as host Hillsdale High fended off a fourth quarter comeback attempt by the valley to win 24-16. With Cougar quarterback Tyler Gilbert sidelined due to illness, running back Jonny Cooper took the reigns behind center, going 2-2 passing with a touchdown pass while rushing for 18 carries for 90 yards.
SLV had fallen to a 24-3 deficit in the fourth quarter as Hillsdale running back Damien Carter gashed the Cougars for 234 yards on the day. But nine minutes into the fourth quarter the Cougar offense came alive and put up two touchdowns in less than two minutes.
Cougar junior receiver Lucas Sinnott took a 26-yard pass from Cooper to score the first Cougar touchdown. Following a Knights fumble, cougar running back Cameron Morse punched in a 4-yard touchdown that would prove to be the final score of the SLV comeback attempt as the extra point attempt failed.
SLV will wrap up their pre-season at home at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 against Watsonville High School (1-2).