Photograph by George Sakkestad
Los Gatos junior tackle Mike Manson takes a cooling water break during a hot August practice session. Manson is battling for a job in the tough Gatos defensive line this fall.
By Dick Sparrer
He can't see their faces when he strides up to the line scrimmage.
But quarterback Josh Rogers must admit that he likes the looks of the offensive linemen in front of him when he climbs in under center for the Los Gatos football team. The same can't be said for the guys who have to meet those linemen head on.
Opposing defenses may even consider it an ugly sight when they square off with the Wildcats--because of the line, and Rogers, too.
Because it seems that the quarterback and his linemen are the strength of this year's Los Gatos football team--a team that should contend for another title in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
Rogers will be back to spearhead the Los Gatos attack this fall after leading the Wildcats to a Central Coast Section title a year ago.
The Cats were second in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and finished the regular season with a 6-4 record. But they won three straight games in the post-season to claim a CCS title, largely because of Rogers.
"He's probably the best quarterback prospect in the area," Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico said of Rogers. "He has great physical skills."
Rogers earned all-league honors last fall after throwing for 19 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards. He was intercepted only four times in 13 games.
Solid offensive line
He'll be working this fall behind a solid offensive line this season that includes veterans Doug Miller (6-foot-3, 218) and Enzo Iacomini (6-foot, 230) at guards, Brian Yip (5-foot-9, 205) at center, Carlos Lanuza (5-foot-11, 231) and Tom Lopez (6-foot-3, 220) at tackles, and Jeremy Malander (6-foot-4, 188) at tight end.
Cattolico calls Miller "the real heart of the team," adding that the senior guard is "a tough player and a team leader." He serves double duty as a defensive end.
Iacomini started at noseguard as a sophomore, and returns as a junior to go both ways at both nose and guard.
"He's a tough two-way performer," Cattolico said of Iacomini. "He's very physical."
Lanuza and Lopez are a pair of big, solid senior tackles who will see time on both offense and defense.
"[Lanuza] is a three-year player who will anchor the line," Cattolico said. "He's looked great on offense and tough on defense. He's been dominating up front."
Lopez is looking good, too.
"He is without a doubt the most improved player over last year," Cattolico said of Lopez. "He's been as solid as a rock on offense and very aggressive on defense."
Yip, a senior, is the guy in the middle of that offensive front and will also play a linebacker spot on defense.
"He's worked very hard to become an outstanding center and linebacker," the coach said. "He's very bright and very tough. He's a real throwback--a little undersized but a super player. He gives 100 percent every second."
Malander, another senior, is a top prospect at tight end and defensive end this fall.
"He has improved and does some things really well," Cattolico said. "He has the potential to really be an outstanding player."
"Our offensive line is very solid, and Rogers is outstanding," the coach added. "But he needs help from our receivers, especially with Gremore out."
Gremore injured
Senior wide receiver Joel Gremore (5-foot-11, 166) figured to be the top pass-catcher for Los Gatos, but a thumb injury has sidelined him for a few weeks.
"He looks to replace Manuel Austin," Cattolico said of Gremore. "He has many of the same skills. But the injured thumb may force him to miss the preleague games."
Seniors Reny Townsend (6-foot, 152) and Ben May (5-foot-11, 157) are other quality receivers for the Cats.
"[Townsend] is the best hitter on the team," Cattolico said. "He's a tough, physical player who can also catch it and runs great patterns."
May is expected to replace Gremore in the early stages of the season.
Junior Alan Rosa (5-foot-10, 175) will lead the ground game for the Cats.
"He's an excellent running back with expectional quickness and balance," the coach said. "He'll probably carry the ball most of the time. He could be one of the best we've had, and that's saying a lot."
Senior letterman Walker Pearce-Percy (6-foot-1, 181) was running strong at fullback until he was sidelined with an ankle injury.
"Hopefully he'll return by league play," Cattolico said. "He's an outstanding runner, a good pass catcher and a tough blocker."
Junior Austin Glover (6-foot-1, 194) has stepped into the fullback position after starting at tight end.
"He's picking up the position really well," the coach said, "but his greatest asset is on the defensive side, where he has been outstanding."
Glover will start at linebacker for the Cats along with junior Steve LaBarbera (5-foot-7, 155).
"He has great strength and quickness," Cattolico said of LaBarbera. "He so impressed the coaches in our scrimmages that he earned a starting spot."
Cucco is back
Junior defensive lineman Charlie Cucco (5-foot-11, 231) is a returning starter who has picked up in 1996 where he left off in '95.
"He has really been tough to handle," Cattolico said of Cucco. "He is by far our best defensive lineman."
Juniors Mike Manson (6-foot-5, 248) and Fred Luminoso (6-foot-1, 197) and sophomore Chris Cavanagh (6-foot-1, 172) are other top defensive prospects.
"Manson has great size and raw talent, and has made a mark on defense," the coach said. "Luminoso is a bright, tough lineman who is battling for a spot on the defensive side.
"Cavanagh has excellent speed and range at free safety."
Other players figuring to make contributions this fall include seniors Mike Schnitzer (5-foot-10, 183) at strong safety, Stu Davis (5-foot-6, 145) at running back, and Ryan Baldinger (6-foot, 180) at wide receiver; juniors John Stengele (6-foot, 170) and Anthony Fitzgerald (5-foot-11, 171) at wide receiver and defensive back, and Vince Posner (6-foot-1, 170) at tight end and defensive end; and sophomores Matt Klemchuk (6-foot-3, 206) at tackle, Matt Grover (5-foot-9, 184) at fullback and defensive end, Mike Harris (6-foot-3, 182) at tight end and defensive end, and Austin Neale (5-foot-11, 192) at guard and noseguard.
"This year's team is more solid position by position, but we lack the big play stars of last year's team," Cattolico said. "So a team effort will be required every week."
"Rosa should provide an excellent running game," he added, "but the pass must complement the run if the Cats are make a run for the league title."
Cattolico expects his Wildcats to contend for that title along with Wilcox and Homestead.
"This team cannot afford any more injuries and must come together and play as a team every week," he said.
Los Gatos opener
The Wildcats will open the 1996 campaign when they host Mitty on Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., at Helm Field. The frosh-soph teams will kick off at 5:15 p.m. The complete 1996 schedule follows; all games are at 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 13: Mitty at Los Gatos
Sat., Sept. 21: Bellarmine at San Jose City
Sat., Sept. 28: Lynbrook at Los Gatos
Fri., Oct. 4: Palo Alto at Los Gatos*
Fri., Oct. 11: Mountain View at Foothill
Fri., Oct. 18: at Wilcox*
Fri., Oct. 25: Homestead at Los Gatos*
Fri., Nov. 1 at Milpitas*
Fri., Nov. 8: Saratoga at Los Gatos*
Fri., Nov. 15: Monta Vista at Cupertino*
(All 7:30 p.m. varsity games are preceded by frosh-soph games at 5:15 p.m., except Bellarmine--frosh-sophers will play Sept. 20, 3 p.m., at Bellarmine)
*Denotes league games
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, September 11, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved