The Eagles have landed The Eagles have landed (November 11, 2005)

Los Altos loses division to Santa Clara, making CCS a long shot

By Scott Campbell

Los Altos knew exactly what it was up against. In a game plan straight out of the Eagles' playbook, Santa Clara would try to control the clock with a powerful rushing attack and set the tone with a physical defense.

Only, in this game, Santa Clara did both better.

In what amounted to the El Camino Division title game, Los Altos lost 10-0 to the host Bruins, done in by two first-half fumbles and its sudden inability to put points on the board.

"The turnovers were tough," said Eagles coach Erik Rutgers. "The fundamentals are what shot us in the foot. We just weren't in rhythm."

Though Santa Clara had averaged nearly 46 points in winning its first four El Camino contests, the Eagles showed early that their defense was up to the task. Los Altos defensive backs Adam Pittman and Dion Taylor stopped the Bruins cold with an interception and a tackle for a five-yard loss, respectively, to spearhead first-quarter defensive stands.

But the offensive woes set Los Altos (6-3, 4-1 El Camino) back from the beginning.

After the Eagles drove to Santa Clara's 16-yard line in the first quarter, tailback Jamar Watson lost the ball and saw Bruins nose guard Nathaniel Otten recover it, ruining a chance for Los Altos to take the early lead.

On the Eagles' next possession, Otten sacked Los Altos quarterback Richard Rullo and recovered the ensuing fumble at the Eagles' 32-yard line.

Four plays later, Bruins kicker Daniel Dukic gave his team a 3-0 lead by booting a 32-yard field goal with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter.

Trying to get some semblance of an offensive flow, the Eagles risked a fourth-and-one at their own 40-yard line. But Watson, who carried 18 times for 82 yards, was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, and Santa Clara again made the most of the field position shift.

Bruins quarterbacks David Gurrola scored the only touchdown of the afternoon with a one-yard run shortly before halftime that, with Dukic's point-after, put Santa Clara up 10-0.

Los Altos' defense kept the Bruins scoreless the rest of the way, but Santa Clara (8-1, 5-0 El Camino) ate up much of the clock with its bruising backfield of Justice Patterson (25 carries for 145 yards) and Nick Brodack (19 carries for 92 yards).

"Run the ball, run the clock and make a couple of plays on offense," said Bruins coach Rich Hammond of his team's strategy.

Though the Eagles clawed to within Santa Clara's 25-yard line twice in the fourth quarter, they failed to break through a defense that notched its third shutout in league play.

Rutgers, the Los Altos coach, wanted to make sure his defense got the credit it deserved.

"Defense, as usual -- they were fighting their butts off out there, but they were just on the field way too much," said Rutgers. "They've done everything it takes to give our football team an opportunity to win."

With the loss, its first in league play, Los Altos fell out of a two-way tie with Santa Clara atop the division, ensuring the Eagles no better than a second-place finish. As only the El Camino Division champion is likely to gather a CCS bid, Los Altos may miss out on the playoffs altogether.

"It's a bummer that we didn't make it," said Los Altos wide receiver Evan Nelson, "but I guess if we win next week, there's still a slight chance that we'll be able to, so ... always looking ahead."

Los Altos completes its regular season against Gunn on Nov. 11.

E-mail Scott Campbell at sports@mv-voice.com

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