Ricky Teo lead the Fremont Firebirds (4-1) from a 14-point deficit to a 33-32 overtime victory against Homestead (2-2) on Friday night.
After falling behind 14-0 with 8:04 to play in the second quarter, Fremont rallied to score 25 unanswered points over the next three quarters, before finishing the game out in overtime.
The rally began with a screen pass to Joseph De Los Santos, who sprinted his way to a 35-yard touchdown to make the score 14-7. On the ensuing kickoff Homestead fumbled, giving Fremont the ball on the Homestead 22.
Fremont failed to capitalize on the turnover, and Homestead regained possession, which they almost turned into points with an 82-yard screen pass to Ryan Allemandi. But the play was called back on an illegal man downfield penalty.
Homestead managed to move the ball all the way down to the Fremont 7 yard line, but failed to convert on a fourth down play, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Some hard running by Keenan Smith then gave Fremont another six points, as Smith broke three tackles before getting out into space on a 92 yard touchdown run. The following extra point attempt was no good, making the score 14-13.
A 1-yard quarterback sneak by Teo on Fremont’s next possession gave the Firebirds their first lead of the night just before halftime, 19-14.
Early in the fourth quarter, Fremont extended its ead to 25-14 with a long drive culminating in a 6-yard scoring run by De Los Santos.
Homestead finally hit its stride again after watching their opponents score 25 straight points. On its very first play of the next drive, Mark Hirshbeck hit an uncovered Allemandi with a long pass over the middle on a seam route, which Allemandi turned into a 63-yard touchdown reception. A successful 2-point conversion brought Homestead to within 25-22 with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter.
Homestead tied the game with three minutes left on a 37-yard field goal by John Rak.
Overtime drove the crowd at Homestead into a frenzy, as Homestead scored a touchdown on their possession from the 10 yard line, and with an extra point made it 32-25.
Fremont then had one chance from 10 yards out to score a touchdown and end the game in a tie. They managed to score in just two plays, the touchdown coming on a 1-yard run.
Not content with a tie, Fremont opted to go for a 2-point conversion to win the game. Teo delivered, fooling Homestead on a bootleg and tip-toeing across the goal line for the victory.
“It felt great getting that score, we are a whole different team this year," Teo said.
Added Fremont coach Ron DeMonner: “We are flying high right now. I think this win solidifies us. We made some mistakes, but you can’t find a more hungry-hearted group of guys. We looked like the Oakland Raiders of old.”
Fremont now begins DAL “A” division play against Monta Vista, while Homestead will play next week at Los Gatos to begin their ECAL “C” division schedule.
