The Los Altos Eagles varsity football [3-0-1 (1-0)] continued its undefeated season with the most satisfying victory yet, avenging last year’s loss to rival Mountain View [3-1 (0-1)] with a 28-14 victory on Friday, October 1.

Bristling with energy from memories of 2009’s humiliating 38-19 defeat, the Eagles wasted no time in washing the sting away. On the very first play of the game, seniors Kyle Riesch and Paul Madrid forced a Spartan fumble on a kick return, which sophomore Paul Hernandez scooped up and charged 15-yards to the end zone for an Eagle touchdown.

This physicality set the tone for the rest of the quarter, as the Eagles crushed the Spartans on both sides of the ball and scored two more times. Senior Tyler Stout scored on a 6-yard run and senior quarterback Martin Aycott added a 3-yard QB sneak touchdown.

As the Eagles have done all season, their offense relied heavily on a punishing rushing attack against Mountain View. They had 189 total rushing yards on 28 carries, near their season average of 208 YPG.

The Eagles managed this feat while missing its top two running backs: Senior Edwin Zuniga was suspended for an altercation with a referee at last week’s game against Santa Cruz and senior Jason Lopez suffered an ankle injury on the third play of the game.

However, senior running backs Giovanni Ibarra and Stout filled in admirably, rushing for 60 and 72 yards respectively and averaging 6-yards a carry each. Once again, the offensive line did their job.

“We believed in ourselves [after Jason’s injury],” lineman senior Jacob Thompson said. “Giovanni also did a great job.”

The two helped take pressure off Aycott, who is normally a wide receiver, in his start at quarterback. He replaced injured sophomore Steven McLean, who stood on the sideline with a giant cast on his throwing arm.

Martin rushed 13 times for 44 yards and 2 TDs and was 5/9 passing for 56 yards, faring well despite playing the Spartans (who were expected to provide the most difficult challenge of the season so far).

In the second quarter, the teams traded touchdowns. Mountain View scored on a 50-yard bomb down the sideline, and for a while seemed to be gaining momentum since the Eagles offense frequently stalled. However, an interception by junior defensive back Daniel Eaton with 7:40 remaining squashed any hope of a continued comeback.

Towards the end of the half junior defensive end Siaosi Schneider forced a turnover off of a fumble on a devastating sack, his second in three plays. Set up at the 15-yard line, the Eagles ran the ball down to within inches of the goaline on 4th down. Head coach Bill Waggoner elected to go for the touchdown, and Martin barely stretched over the goaline for his second score of the game and a 28-7 halftime lead.

The second half continued the Eagles defensive domination. The team finished with 5 sacks and 3 interceptions, two by Daniel and one by junior corner back Bemi Onipedi. Mountain View scored a garbage time touchdown with 37 seconds left in the game, and though they successfully recovered an onside kick, Bemi’s interception sealed the game.

Mountain View was the first league game of the year, and persumably the biggest challenge in the El Camino Divison. Players are confident about the rest of the season despite the injuries.

“It feels excellent,” Martin said. “We’re going to take [the] league [championship.]”