SARATOGA – The Saratoga High football team plays on Benny Pierce Field. There can be no greater reminder of the days when the Falcons were a dominant program in the Central Coast Section, going 13-0 three different seasons from 1973-1980 under the legendary Pierce.
Saratoga has changed over the years, as a school and a community, and football is no longer king. But that doesn’t mean history and tradition are forgotten.
In fact, after Saratoga’s 41-15 victory over Mills on Friday night, there’s been some discussion about Saratoga High football history. That’s because the Falcons are 4-0. And that hasn’t happened since at least the last millennium.
“It means everything,” said senior two-way starter Keion Ashjaee-Marshall. “It’s a great feeling.”
“I’ve been coming to Saratoga games for a long time,” said quarterback Anson Hulme, whose brother Seth played during some lean seasons, including a 1-7 campaign in 2021. “I came in thinking we probably wouldn’t be too great. But we just keep on going. We keep on winning games.”
Saratoga’s Anson Hulme (11) looks to pass against Mills High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Saratoga (3-0 in the Peninsula Athletic League Lake Division) spread the ball around while keeping Mills (1-4, 1-2) off-balance. Ashjaee-Marshall had been averaging 90 yards rushing per game, but he took a backseat (9 carries, 38 yards) as five Saratoga backs gained at least 35 yards on the ground while the team totaled 253.
But as Mills brought its defense into the box, Saratoga countered with quick strikes to outside receivers in single coverage.
Charlie Arman took a receiver screen on the left side and broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown (technically a run because of a backward pass), and Ian Johnson did the same on the next second-quarter series, this time for 64 yards as Saratoga built a 34-0 lead into the third quarter.
Saratoga’s Charlie Arman (10) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against Mills High School in the first half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Mills, which features a balanced attack with the passing of quarterback Givanni Angelini and running of Matthew Juul, never got untracked until late. The Vikings’ highlight was a 38-yard pick six by Kosta Jada, who spun out of tackles while heading toward the right sideline and cut across to the left on a wild scoring return that cut the deficit to 34-15 with 6:09 left.
Mills coach Rick Angelini preached improvement to his players after the game. In the Lake Division, there are wins out there if you continue to get better, he said.
As much as first-year Saratoga head coach Archie Ljepava is enjoying the present, he’s thinking about the future. There is no junior varsity team this year, so the 35-man roster includes all grades and requires the veterans to be willing to teach the underclassmen and be examples.
“We’re relying on everybody,” Ljepava said. “These guys are all together. That’s what we’re trying to develop, and that’s the way we play. We have eight different guys running the football, and multiple guys scoring — there were five different touchdown scorers Friday. We know it’s not a one-man show.”
Saratoga head coach Archie Ljepava talks with his team after defeating Mills High Shool 45-15 at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
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In recent years, the Falcons may have been overshadowed by their incredible 120-member band that has played at the Rose Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But this year’s squad is grabbing its own headlines, even in light of its glorious football past.
“We all know the tradition,” said Ljepava, whose parents attended Saratoga in its’ football heyday. “But no one compares. No one says anything about it. Nobody tries to live up to anybody else.
“It’s just … we want to do good by them. We want to make them proud. And we know they’re watching down on us, and we’re trying to things the way that they would.”
Editor’s note: This matchup won this week’s readers-pick-a-game-for-us-to-cover poll. Look for the next poll Monday.
Saratoga’s Jaydon Kwong (21) celebrates with Saratoga’s Anson Hulme (11) after scoring a touchdown against Mills High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
The Saratoga High School student sections cheers on against Mills High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Saratoga’s Keion Ashjaee-Marshall (0) is tackled by a Mills High School player in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Saratoga’s Brennan Pak (8) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Mills High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Mills’ Kosta Jada (7) runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass intended for Saratoga High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Saratoga head coach Archie Ljepava takes the field after defeating Mills High Shool 45-15 at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
The Saratoga High School student sections cheer on against Mills High School in the second half at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Saratoga head coach Archie Ljepava, right, greets Mills head coach Rick Angelini after defeating Mills High Shool 45-15 at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
The Saratoga Falcons celebrate after defeating Mills High Shool 45-15 at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
The Saratoga Falcons celebrate after defeating Mills High Shool 45-15 at Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)