The Palo Alto High School football team (3-2-0) bounced back from a tough loss to Milpitas last week with a blowout victory, 55-14, over the Homestead Mustangs (2-3-0) Friday night.

Early in the first quarter, a return to the Mustangs 21-yard line by junior wide receiver Malcolm Davis set up a touchdown run by senior running back Matt Tolbert.

Later in the first, Davis returned a punt for 60 yards and a touchdown, putting Paly up 14-0.

The Vikings refused to let up, piling on 35 points by the half to the Mustangs’ seven. Tolbert was responsible for three scores in the half.

The second half was no different, as Davis continued to return kicks deep into Homestead territory and the Vikings continued to put points on the board.

With five minutes to go in the third quarter, junior running back Romaine Ward ran into the end zone  to extend the lead to 48-7.  Paly’s starters were given some rest as many second and third stringers took the field in the second half.

A Homestead touchdown cut the lead to 48-14.  However, Paly answered with a 60-yard touchdown run by Ward, making the final score 55-14 Paly.

Head coach Earl Hansen credited hard work at practice to the Viking success on the field.

“This team is not used to losing,” Hansen said.

After a heartbreaking loss to Milpitas in last week’s game where the Vikings turned the ball over several times, Hansen was satisfied with his team’s  response .

“We cut down on the mistakes, that’s the biggest thing,” Hansen said.  “We had two mistakes here as far as the fumbles are concerned…we stepped up and corrected them.”