SD, DJ, Beat LA in Opener

(San Dimas)- Mistakes, penalties, a malfunctioning scoreboard, and Nico Barbone rushing for only 89-yards weren't enough to keep San Dimas from a 27-16 victory Friday night over Los Altos.

  "We just made a lot of silly mistakes," said San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow.

  In a game best described as far from perfect and typical of Zero Week, Saint running back/defensive back Daniel Joseph nearly was perfect and anything but typical scoring four touchdowns.

  Two came on runs of 50 and 43 yards to give his team back the lead. The fourth was ignited by a tipped pass and turned into a 93-yard interception return as time expired.

  "No one really knows about D.J.," San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow said. "He was hurt last year and no one knew what he could do. But he's a track guy, the fastest guy on the field."

  Joseph (7-102-yards) was needed because San Dimas fans saw their team stumble out of the gate.

  In the second quarter Los Altos kicker Jeremy Brown banged in a 20-yard field goal after a botched punt fake by the Saints.

  With 5:35 to play Joseph emerged. Taking the ball he went left. A quick cut up field, he blasted through the Conqueror secondary 50-yards to paydirt. SD was back on top.

  Minutes later Los Altos' Johnny Medina fielded a punt at the Saints 47, went left, turned the corner and it was 10-7 LA.

  Opening the third Barbone (11-89-yards), who carried only five times in the first half, bludgeoned the Conquerors with three consecutive carries to start the third before Joseph went left again, sprinting 43-yards to the end zone and a 14-10 San Dimas lead.

  With nine minutes left in the contest, Davis again went left and hit the corner like a rocket from five-yards out to make it 21-10.

  Los Altos rallied. Junior quarterback Joseph McKeehan narrowed it to 21-16 on a one-yard plunge after several Saint penalties.

  With less than three minutes to play the Conquerors recovered an onside kick and marched to the San Dimas 15 using pass interference and face mask infractions before McKeehan throwing to his right had the ball tipped and grabbed out of the air by Joseph, who then weaved through traffic before turning on the jets and going the length of the field as time expired.

  "He's a great player," Los Altos Coach Felipe Aguilar said. "But you know our kids played their hearts out and never gave up. They (San Dimas) made big plays, but we'll be okay."

  "Our defense played great," said Zernickow. "Everything they got we gave them."

  Kyle Salm (LT) and Ryan Doll (LG) make up the left side of the Saints offensive line providing for Joseph's exploits.

  Defensively the big play was again delivered by Joseph at the end, but throughout the game linebacker Kyle Whithem shined.

By Joe Torosian

Contact Joe at joet13b@yahoo.com