Homestead may have experienced a bit of déjà vu when it celebrated its first win of the season, defeating Half Moon Bay 28-25 -- that coming one year after also defeating the Cougars 35-16.
The win did not come as easily as last year. Half Moon Bay scored with 10 minutes, 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter to take a 25-21 lead over the Mustangs. However, an HMB fumble set Homestead up for the go-ahead score, with a pass to tight end Joseph Faria and carries by fullback Derek Rositas and running back Yongsuk Kim putting Homestead in scoring position.
Finally, quarterback Mark Hirschbeck handed the ball to fullback Rositas and first-and-10 from the 21 and Rositas did the rest, cruising into the end zone for the eventual, game-winning score.
As the stadium rumbled with noise and the bank struck up the fight song, Homestead made the extra point to close out the scoring.
But the lead was anything but secure at the time. Half Moon Bay still had a chance with 4:56 left after a Homestead penalty on the kickoff moved the ball downfield. On second-and-three from the Homestead 43, the coast-side school gambled with a long pass, but Homestead cornerback John Rak leaped to intercept.
Homestead managed to run out the clock from there, finishing off its San Mateo County opponents.
Half Moon Bay meets visiting Wilcox (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. Homestead will shoot for its second consecutive victory to start the season when it takes on host Salinas, also on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Cowboys defeated Piedemont Hills 59-34 in a wild opener.
