By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
For the past two seasons, the Yerba Buena (San Jose) High School football team struggled, winning only once in its last 20 games.
But the 2007 season has been a complete reversal of fortune for the Aztec Warriors.
Yerba Buena finished its non-league schedule on Friday with a 26-14 victory over Hillsdale and will begin West Valley League action next week with an unblemished 3-0 record.
The Aztec Warriors, who are off to their best start in 17 years, are led by senior running back Robert Castellano. He accounted for two touchdowns in Friday's win over the Knights.
The tandem of quarterback Arjun Ashokkumar and receiver Prawit Pachechapeno have also contributed, with Ashokkumar hitting on 10 of his16 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown in Friday's win. Pachechapeno hauled in six receptions for 109 yards.
The Aztec Warrior defense, which has held all three of its opponents to just 14 points or less in the three-game winning streak, generated two turnovers to help set up Yerba Buena's two first-half touchdowns while holding Hillsdale to just 39 yards in total offense in the opening 24minutes.
In fact, the only bump in the road on Friday was a two-point PAT attempt from the 28-yard line following back-to-back penalties (unsportsmanlike conduct and false start) after taking a 13-0 lead.
With the team firing on all cylinders, Yerba Buena appears poised to make a run at the league championship and possibly a deep run into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
The Aztec Warriors will have this week off before opening league play on Sept. 28 at home against Lick High (San Jose), a team that defeated Yerba Buena 21-6 in last year's season finale.
In other CCS football action of note, Menlo-Atherton took another step forward in its bid to become a force in the CCS, despite losing Friday's game.
The Bears rallied from an early 21-0 deficit to get to within one score of tying the game before falling to perennial powerhouse Valley Christian 24-14.
Menlo-Atherton fell to 2-1 with the loss, as three first half turnovers doomed the team to its first loss of the year. The Bears will begin Peninsula Bay League action on Sept. 28 against Aragon, a team many pick to challenge for the section title this year.
Aragon (1-1) rebounded from a tough season opening loss to Los Gatos by whipping Pioneer 27-10 on Friday. Aragon will open league play at Carlmont on Friday in a final tune-up before the big showdown against Menlo-Atherton.
Serra High (San Mateo) also rebounded from a tough loss to De La Salle by pounding McQueen (Reno, NV) 37-13 on Friday. Senior Deleon Eskridge tallied touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kick return while also passing for a score on an option play.
Cross-Country
Half Moon Bay sophomore Sammy Hamilton finished third to lead CCS runners in the girls varsity cross country race Saturday at the De LaSalle Invitational. Hamilton ran the three-mile long course in 18 minutes, 26 seconds.
Water polo
Sacred Heart Prep captured the girls championship at the St.Francis Autumn Invitational, defeating Monte Vista 9-5 in the finale. Pallavi Menon led the way with four goals while Caroline Clark added a hat trick.Goalie Lindsay Dorst had eight saves.
