Photograph by Sebastian Widmann

The Los Gatos football team prepared for the 2000 season with a week-long, live-in camp on the high school campus. Players lived together in the mini-gym, and worked together through a couple of daily practice sessions. Above, linebackers hit the bags during one of the Wildcats' two daily practices.

The Wildcats are ready to move

Play of offensive line will be key

By Dick Sparrer

There's no doubt that the Los Gatos football team will have a quarterback very capable of throwing the ball in the upcoming 2000 season.

The Wildcats will also have talented receivers to catch the ball, outstanding backs to run the ball and gifted kickers to boot the ball away. They'll even have a fine crew of defenders who can knock down the ball when other teams throw it, and knock down opposing backs when they try to carry the ball.

But it's a guy who will have nothing to do with the football who just could be the key player for the Cats this fall--senior guard Nick McAlpine.

The Wildcats featured a powerful offensive line last fall, anchored by big tackles Mike Belsheim and Ryan O'Gorman. But all of the linemen were lost to graduation last spring--all, that is, except McAlpine.

"Nick is the only returning starter on the line," said veteran Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico. "But he's a tough guard and good leader."

He'll have to be, considering the rebuilding project that the Cats have before them.

"Our largest rebuilding area is the offensive line," said the coach. "Here only one player (McAlpine) saw significant playing time last year."

The project could be the key to success for the Wildcats, who certainly seem to have all of the other pieces in place to solve the puzzle that is the 2000 season.

Junior quarterback Trent Edwards, senior receivers Brian Edwards and Joey Warren, junior tight end Geno Gingery, and senior running back Derek Smith will lead what Cattolico hopes will be a high-powered offense in the coming season.

And with Nick Skrabe at linebacker and B. Edwards, Warren, Markus Willard and Scott Soucy blanketing enemy receivers in the secondary, Gatos appears to have enough strength to stop opposing offenses.

So the key to another championship season could just be up front in the offensive line.

Line coach Russ Leal rides the sled as the Los Gatos offensive linemen work hard in practice. The key the Gatos season in 2000 could be the play of that line.

Photograph by Sebastian Widmann







Edwards leads offense

If the line gives T. Edwards the time, he could just be a guy who can pick apart enemy defenses.

"He has great talent," said Cattolico of his junior signal-caller. "He completed 60 percent of his passes last year while sharing the quarterback duties."

Tony Berry could also see time throwing the football for the Wildcats.

"He's gotten bigger and stronger, and throws the ball really well," said Cattolico of Berry. "He's become more comfortable with the offense and could start at many schools in the area."

Anthony Paglia and Steve Sweeney are quarterbacks up from the frosh-soph. Sweeney, though, is recovering from knee surgery and could be out for the year.

"But he still comes out and throws in drills, and could be an asset if he gets released during the season," said Cattolico of Sweeney, who led the frosh-soph to a 9-1 season in 1999.

But Edwards is the top quarterback.

"He has a great arm, and should lead an outstanding passing game," said the coach of his junior prospect. "He's gotten bigger and stronger and faster, and with the receiving corps that is available could have quite a year."

Outstanding receivers

Warren and B. Edwards head up that solid receiving corps.

"We have a very talented group, and it's a strong point on the offensive side of the ball," said the coach of his receivers.

B. Edwards has "great speed and athletic ability, and can do it all," said the coach of the returning all-leaguer with 4.4 speed. "He's being highly recruited, and should be one of top players in area."

"Warren is probably the most complete player on the team and only a step slower than Edwards," said Cattolico of the player voted the outstanding junior in the league last year. "He's a multiple threat, running and receiving."

Willard is another outstanding pass-catcher in the Gatos receiving corps.

"He's a big, strong receiver with great intensity," said the coach of Willard. "He's also a good blocker."

Seniors Shane Rogers, Geoff Sholly and Jason Prejean, and juniors Anthony Frangadakis, James Furlo and James Gentry are other prospects at wide receiver.

Gingery is a talented junior tight end who will also be a key target for Gatos passers.

"(Gingery) rounds out an outstanding set of receivers," said the coach. "He has great hands and speed, and has a knack for getting open. He has shown himself to be potentially one of the finest tight ends this school has seen."


Photograph by Sebastian Widmann

Randy Reilly takes advantage of some time off to get a little shut-eye.

Top Prospects

Senior Matt Johnson and sophomore Travis Howell are other top prospects at the position. "(Johnson) has been a pleasant surprise and has worked his way into consideration for the job," said Cattolico. "He's a guy who can block and catch, and he's a great worker."

"(Howell) has great potential and good size, but is learning a new position," added the coach. "Still, he catches the ball well and is a good blocker."

Juniors Stuart Gordon and Todd Bentson are other prospects at tight end.

Smith will be the key player in the Gatos backfield this fall after running over 600 yards last season as the back-up to Justin Narragon. "He has great quickness and strength, and he can catch the ball," said Cattolico of Smith.

Soucy has moved from wide receiver to running back this season and will get his share of carries, along with junior Chris Willard, who was the top ball carrier for the frosh-soph last season.

"(Willard) has impressed the coaches with his toughness and speed," said Cattolico.

Skrabe and Jason Rosa are a couple of seniors sharing time at fullback.

Senior John Glage and juniors Scott Cohn and Barrett Carpenter could also see duty in the offensive backfield for the Cats.

McAlpine a leader

But, again, it's up front offensively where the big question remains for Los Gatos.

McAlpine is a guard who leads the group on the offensive line.

"He's a tough, hard-nosed player who knows what is takes to win and is helping many of the young players along," said Cattolico. "He is the anchor of the line."

Senior Adam Toeniskoetter "is a real surprise and has worked his way to a probable starting berth (at guard) by improving in every area," said the coach. "Adam is very strong and has gotten a lot quicker, but still needs to improve is foot work to secure the spot."

Juniors Evan McDonald and Ryan Johnson are guards up from the frosh-soph, and senior Mike Vyhnal and juniors Tom Ferguson and Matt Newell could also get playing time at guard.

Seniors Casey Sargent and Randy Reilly, junior Nick Crafford and sophomore John Allen are battling for work as the starting tackles.

Juniors Nathan Fillhardt, Theron McCarty and Jon Espe are other prospects at the position.

Senior Matt Benedetti and junior Dan Holtzman are in a dead heat for the starting job at center.

"Benedetti has experience and has put on size and added speed and looks very good," said Cattolico. "And Holtzman has great size and strength, but has been held back by shoulder problems. He appears healthy, though, and is making a strong showing at this position."

Juniors Ben Miller and Nathan Follette are also looking for work at the center position.

Many of the same names pop up on the defensive side of the football.


Photograph by Sebastian Widmann

Markus Willard and Tony Berry enjoy a little video competition.




First-rate secondary

Gatos returns all four players to the secondary this season with Warren and Soucy at the corners, M. Willard at strong safety and B. Edwards at free safety.

"They all play well, run well and are all nearly 4.0 students," said Cattolico. "They all are very talented and all four received all-league honors last year."

C. Willard, Rogers, Sholly, Gentry, Cohn, Furlo, Frangadakis and Prejean are others looking for work in the secondary.

Skrabe is the No. 1 returner at linebacker for the Wildcats.

"He led the team with120 tackles last year," said Cattolico of Skrabe. "He's a defensive force."

Vyhnal and Glage are other talented inside linebackers for the Wildcats, and Howell, McDonald and Miller look to be top prospects at outside backer.

Cattolico isn't quite as sure yet who will replace the talented Jared Allen and Ben Winkelman as the Gatos defensive ends, but he has some top candidates in M. Johnson, McAlpine, Gingery, Rosa and Berry.

"They are all showing good signs, but so far the decision on this spot is still open," said the coach.

Also showing promise are Gordon, Carpenter, Ferguson and Bentson.

The coach feels that Gatos has plenty of depth in the defensive line.

"(Coach) Mark Magagna loves to play a five or six player rotation here and has the bodies to do it," said Cattolico, indicating that any number of players could get work in the defensive front.

Espe, Reilly, junior Kenny Heimer, Newell, Sargent, Allen, Benedetti, R. Johnson, Toeniskoetter, Crafford, Fillhardt, McCarty and Follette are all players who could figure in the Gatos attack up front defensively.

"This group has looked tough, but the question is how good are they and how weak is the offensive line," admitted Cattolico. "The answer will continue to unfold in the weeks to come, and that answer could be the key to the season."

Special teams

Another key for Los Gatos could be the play of its special teams, and Cattolico is pleased with the group he has handling the kicking game.

T. Edwards is back as the Gatos punter, and B. Edwards and Frangadakis are battling for the job as the place-kicker along with Soucy, Vyhnal and Smith. Howell and Skrabe will be the long snappers and T. Edwards will hold for extra points and field goals.

But it's the kick returners who could provide the real plus for Los Gatos with B. Edwards heading up a return crew that also includes Smith, Warren, Soucy and C. Willard.

Los Gatos football Schedule

Fri., Sept. 8 Leland 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 15 Leigh 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 23 Santa Clara 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Sept. 28 Palo Alto * 3:30 p.m. (f-s)

Fri., Sept. 29 Palo Alto * 3:30 p.m. (var)

Sat., Sept. 30 Palo Alto 11 a.m. (reserves)

Fri., Oct. 6 Mountain View * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 13 at Wilcox * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 14 at Wilcox 11 a.m. (reserves)

Fri., Oct. 20 Homestead * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 21 at Homestead 11 a.m. (reserves)

Fri., Oct. 27 at Milpitas * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 3 Saratoga * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 3 Saratoga 11 a.m. (reserves)

Fri., Nov. 10 Monta Vista * 5:15/7:30 p.m.

 

*Denotes league game

Frosh-soph games precede varsity night games

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Cattolico will be supported by a veteran coaching staff of Mark Magagna (defensive coordinator), Eric Van Patten (offensive coordinator), Craig Sakamoto (offensive backs), Scott Downs (linebackers), Russ Leal (offensive line) and Brad Sanfilippo (defensive backs).

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