MILPITAS — A football team will take points any way it can get them.
So when Santa Teresa, the No. 24 team in the Bay Area News Group Top 25, took on Milpitas on Thursday night, the Saints weren’t picky about how they scored. They just wanted to come out on top.
And thanks to a fumbled snap, blocked punt, 68-yard quarterback keeper and two safeties, Santa Teresa beat Milpitas 25-7 and remained undefeated through the first two weeks of the 2024 season.
“We practice being able to be physical. We practice the short-yardage things,” said Santa Teresa coach Steve Papin. “Our thing is, we want to be explosive, we want to be able to get the big plays. But in the crucial situations, we want to get to third-and-4s and third-and-5s.”
Santa Teresa’s Jaikob Wright (5) blocks a field goal attempt by Milpitas’ Ricky Miramontes (37) in the first quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Santa Teresa (2-0) didn’t score any points in the first quarter, but the Saints made up for lost time in the second frame. Early in the second period, Santa Teresa found itself with great field position after a low snap on a Milpitas punt gifted the Saints the ball at the Trojans’ 11-yard line.
Two plays later, Jaylen Malcom ran the ball in from 11 yards out to put Santa Teresa up 7-0.
Then things got wacky. On the next Milpitas possession, Santa Teresa’s Jaikob Wright blocked a punt by Milpitas’ Ricky Miramontes, which went out the back of the end zone for a safety.
On the Trojans’ following possession, the Saints’ Aiden Dempsey sacked Milpitas quarterback Adrian Chavez in the end zone, putting Santa Teresa up by the novel score of 11-0.
Santa Teresa finished off its first-half scoring the traditional way, as Malcom ran in another 11-yard touchdown to put the Saints up 18-0.
Santa Teresa’s Jaylen Malcom (4) runs with the ball against Milpitas’ Antonio Morales (26) and Milpitas’ Roman Johnson (1) in the first quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
“We’re going to get better and improve,” said Milpitas coach Kelly King. “We were challenged tonight, and we didn’t respond. Give them all the credit in the world, and give us none.”
The Trojans (1-1) got on the board in the second half after simplifying their approach and leaning on the rushing attack. On the first drive of the second half, Milpitas ran 16 plays, all of which were runs.
Ten of the handoffs went to senior Jacob Souza, who piled up 46 yards on the ground. Chavez paid the long march off with a 1-yard sneak to bring the Trojans seven points closer.
“We tried to get a little scheme going, and the kids started playing harder,” King said. “So that was what it was.”
Milpitas’ Jacob Souza (9) runs with the ball against Santa Teresa’s Richard Arechiga (1) and Santa Teresa’s Sebastian Romo (2) in the first quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Santa Teresa wasn’t done scoring, though. With just over four minutes remaining, Saints quarterback Brenton Gaches faked a read option handoff and scampered 68 yards down the left sideline for the game-sealing touchdown.
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“It was pretty crazy,” Gaches said after the game. “Everything goes silent, and I just think, ‘I need to get to that end zone. We need points.’ I thought I was going to get tripped up. I was just trying to high step.”
Papin credited Gaches with taking advantage of how Milpitas was defending Santa Teresa’s previous run plays — and his surprising long speed.
“It’s great when he can call it,” Papin said. “We were trying to just run inside zone, and he said, ‘Coach, the guy keeps coming down. I’m going to read it.’ And we give him the opportunity to read it every time. He did a great job. I just told him, ‘I’ve been with you for four years. I didn’t know you was that fast.’
“It’s a blessing when these guys — the film study, the preparation, the game plan — they see things and they’re able to work on the fly.”
Santa Teresa’s Brenton Gaches (12) throws the ball against Milpitas’ Emiliano Diaz (3) in the first quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Santa Teresa’s Aj Rangel (11) catches the ball against Milpitas’ Lamont Davis (15) in the first quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Santa Teresa’s Jaylen Malcom (4) jumps for the ball against Milpitas in the second quarter at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)