Anxiety was in the air. The lead oscillated between the Santa Clara Bruins and the Saratoga Falcons throughout the contest, and with three minutes remaining, the score was tied. It was anybody's game.
For unbeaten Santa Clara, this fifth game carried much more weight; it was its homecoming game. The crowd was rowdier, the cheering louder, and the game was rougher. So when the penultimate chance to score arose en route to a 28-21 victory, the Bruins capitalized.
Santa Clara's defense pushed Saratoga back amid a flurry of penalties and a sack, forcing the Falcons to punt when they faced a fourth-and-40. The ball sailed 52 yards into the hands of running back Adam Garza. A quick cut and an astonishing burst of speed was enough to transport the ball 72 yards for a touchdown and an eventual victory.
After the PAT, there was a two-minute period of nerve-wracking tension that coach Mark Krail described as a "nail-biter right down to the end."
The Santa Clara defense fought to contain Saratoga's quarterback Jonathan Walters and receiver Kyle Dozier until the Bruins managed a game-clinching interception, prompting wild cheering by the Bruin fans.
Regarding the clinching touchdown, Garza said, "It was exhausting. I gave everything I could for my team, and good things happen when everybody plays together, plays like a team."
In the first half, the majority of the key plays came off of turnovers.
Early in the first quarter, Saratoga struck with a 36-yard scoring reception by Dozier, making it 7-0.
Following a safety which brought Santa Clara to within 7-2, Garza bolted for a 52-yard scoring run and the Bruins tacked on the 2-point conversion for 10-7. A field goal by Santa Clara kicker Leo Hernandez made it 13-7 at the half.
But a Santa Clara fumble set up the go-ahead score for Saratoga in the third quarter. Dozier did the honors with a 10-yard reception. Santa Clara bounced back with a 25-yard Garza scoring run to put the Bruins ahead 21-14. But Saratoga rebounded with a score of its own to make it 21-21, setting up the late heroics by Garza who fielded a low punt from Saratoga and the weaved his magic.
Garza rushed for 146 yards and scored three touchdowns.
"I can't wait to go back to school on Monday," he said with a smile.
Lacking a key player in T.J. Towns, Santa Clara relied on others.
"Dion Perry had a great game," Krail said. "We basically gave him the man-to-man responsibility on (Dozier), who is phenomenal. For the most part, he did a great job on him all night long."
Said Krail to the team afterward, Look at that scoreboard. When you're older, you'll remember tonight."
