The De Anza Division-leading Wilcox Chargers (5-0) steamrolled past the Fremont Firebirds of Sunnyvale (1-4), 59-7 in a division game tilt on Friday night at Fremont High School.
From the opening possession for Wilcox, it was clear they were the better team scoring 26 seconds into the game on three plays.
The Firebirds looked a step slow covering blocks and tackling Chargers players, something Fremont Coach Adam Herald eluded to as a learning experience for his players playing a team such as Wilcox.
“They are getting up to the second level fast,” coach Herald said. “That’s what caught us off guard. We haven’t got our first step into the ground and they’ve taken three steps.”
A combination of Firebird miscues and a relentless Wilcox offensive attack made it a tough night for the home team. The Chargers scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions, including five touchdowns in the first quarter. However, the Firebird defense stood tall and allowed only a field goal on the eighth possession.
Despite a ferocious Wilcox attack, Chargers Head Coach Paul Rosa saw there was room for improvement for his talented team.
“We didn’t have focus in the beginning of the game,” coach Rosa said. “We have to be a little more focused.”
Once the Chargers got focused and engaged into the game, they played high levels of offensive and defensive football against the Firebirds with first and second stringers getting to play for the Chargers.
“It was good for everybody to get to play and play a lot,” coach Rosa said.
All was not lost on Friday night for the Firebirds as they scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter on quarterback Bryand Arcia’s quarterback keeper around the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown run.
It was a difficult night for Fremont, but there is still plenty of season left to keep getting better and improving upon the mistakes made in the games and winning games to try to keep pace in a challenging De Anza division.
“We got to keep staying together,” coach Herald said. “The next guy has to step up. I like our team. I love our heart and our attitude, so we just have to keep building and keep getting better.”
The Firebirds play on the road at Cupertino next Friday at 7 p.m.
