The Los Gatos football team has intentions of contending for the division championship this fall. Leading the effort will be (l-r) Justin Narragon, Nick Skabe, Vince Caviglia, Mike Belsheim and Ben Winkelman.

De Anza Division is tough

But Wildcats figure to be among title contenders

By Dick Sparrer

There is no football race tougher or more competitive than that contested each season in the rugged De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Each year, the division features arguably the finest top-to-bottom line-up in the entire Central Coast Section.

And 1999 is no different.

Butch Cattolico knows it. And the veteran Los Gatos coach has great respect for the other teams in the division.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't want his Wildcats to go out and beat every last one of them.

What's more, in 1999 he thinks they just might be able to do it.

The Wildcats return 16 impact players from a varsity squad that finished second in the De Anza Division last fall and reached the CCS Division III semifinals before falling 12-6 to Aragon. Gatos posted a 7-5 mark last year.

But the Cats have some big shoes to fill, especially on offense, with the loss of Ryan Sorahan and Chris Cavanagh to graduation, and they'll have to fill those spots before making a run at the De Anza title.

Sophomore Trent Edwards and senior Matt Torres are battling for the starting nod at quarterback and the chance to step into Sorahan's position, and Gatos has an entire cast of receivers trying to step into Cavanagh's pass-catching role.

In the meantime, a solid corps of defensive standouts is expected to carry the club.

"The defense must be strong and carry the team until the offense gets it going," said Cattolico. "The offensive line needs time to get experience."

"The running backs are a key as are the two quarterbacks and how quickly they put it together," added the coach. "And the secondary needs to stay healthy if we are going to compete."

And if everything falls into place?

"It could be a banner year if all the pieces come together," said Cattolico. "This is truly a great group of young men."

Of course, a key to the entire season for Los Gatos will be answering the questions on offense.

Torres and Edwards are currently in a battle along with junior Tony Berry for work at quarterback.

"Matt is a great leader and knows and runs the offense very well," said Cattolico of Torres. "He's a capable runner who is improving his throwing."

"Trent is learning quickly and has great ability as a thrower," he added. "He could be the next in an impressive line of quarterbacks at Los Gatos."

The plan right now is to use both quarterbacks, and Cattolico may even consider alternating the two to take advantage of their individual strengths.


Among the Los Gatos leaders this fall will be (l-r) Brandon Chapatte, Briston Lowry and Brian Edwards.




Berry could also figure in the mix of Gatos passers.

"He throws the ball well and has shown flashes of good play," said the coach.

Gatos could count heavily on the running game in the early stages of the season, and they have the backs to do it.

Justin Narragon, Derek Smith and Kyle Shaffer are three runnings backs who look strong at this point in the year.

"Justin is the fastest, biggest and strongest," said Cattolico. "He has a year of varsity experience, and should have a great year."

Smith is not as big, but "has tremendous quickness and vision and is a very dangerous runner."

Cattolico added, "Kyle has really impressed the coaches and earned playing time with his efforts in practice. He has good quickness and is very tough for a little guy."

The Wildcats are deep at fullback with both Vince Caviglia and Nick Skabe running hard.

"Vince is without question the jewel of early camp," said Cattolico. "He was not considered a front line player last year, and he is probably one of the best at his position this year. He's proof that hard work plays off.

"He has good speed and quickness, and he is a great leader with a tremendous desire to win."

Skabe returns for his third varsity season and "is a solid fullback with a real hard-nosed approach to the game."

Kevin Krug and Brian Edwards are battling for the starting job at split end, and Joe Warren and Markus Willard are top contenders at flankerback.

"Kevin is a very talented and intelligent receiver, and Brian has blazing speed and good hands," said Cattolico. "Joe is a natural who has a shown a real feel for his position, and Markus had a great work ethic and multiple talents."

Los Gatos also features a talented crop of tight ends with Ben Winkelman leading the charge.

"He's an outstanding blocker and a very good receiver with excellent speed," said the coach of Winkelman.

Transfer Jared Allen and junior Geno Gingery are other talented tight ends on the Gatos squad.

Tackles Mike Belsheim and Ryan O'Gorman, guard Rick Esparza and center Nick Cisowski have all but locked up starting spots on the offensive line. The other guard spot is up for grabs between Brandon Chapatte, Briston Lowry and Nick McAlpine.

Winkelman will serve double-duty as a defensive end for the Cats with Allen expected to start on the other side.

"Winkelman and Allen are both exceptional," said Cattolico. "Both have college potential and should make it tough to run outside on us."

Bret Maryon and Ryan Callahan are other prospects at defensive end and will get a good look at the position along with Matt Johnson, Dan Kramer, Gingery and Matt Miller.

Caviglia has won the spot at nose in the middle of the defensive line, and John Espe, Matt Benedetti and John McGuan will also see duty there.

O'Gorman and Steve Smith are the favorites to start at defensive tackle, but "this is a position that will probably be played by committee," said the coach. Philip Masleid, Esparza, Randy Reilly, Belsheim, Casey Sargent, Adam Toeniskoetter and Lowry are other top prospects at the position.

Skrabe is a top returning linebacker for the Cats. Chapatte, Lowry, John Glage, Mike Vynhal, McAlpine and Matt Spears are other who could find time at the 'backer post for Gatos.

B. Edwards will be the starter at free safety with Geoff Sholly his back-up.

"Brian has been absolutely great at this position and shows signs of being a tremendous free safety of college quality," said the coach.

Willard is the leading candidate for the starting job at strong safety, with Jason Rosa pushing him for the position.

Warren and Shaffer should start at the corners with Scott Soucy, Smith, Shane Rogers and Justin Draa also in the running for playing time at the position.

Ben Frazier was to be the Gatos kicker, but a foot injury currently has him sidelined. B. Edwards will handle the kicking chores until Frazier is healthy, and Krug and T. Edwards are battling for the punter's job.

Los Gatos will open the 1999 season on the road, visiting Leland on Sept. 11, 1 p.m. The Cats will play their home opener on Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., against Leigh and will open the league season on Oct. 1 against Monta Vista at Cupertino.

Los Gatos Football

Sept.11	at Leland	1 p.m.
Sept. 17	Leigh	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24	Gunn	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1	Monta Vista at Cupertino *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8	Saratoga *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15	Milpitas *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21	Homestead at Fremont *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29	Wilcox *	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5	at Mountain View *	2:45 p.m.
Nov. 12	Palo Alto *	7:30 p.m.

* Indicates league games in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

All 7:30 p.m. games preceded by 5:15 p.m. frosh-soph games. The 1 p.m. game preceded by a 10:30 a.m. frosh-soph game. The 2:45 game preceded by a frosh-soph game at the same time a day earlier on the same field.

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