Wildcats roll over Spartans for ninth win

By Dick Sparrer

There's just a little at stake for the Los Gatos football team when the Wildcats host Palo Alto on Friday night.

Just a little ...

* like the league championship in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League;

* like an undefeated regular season record;

* and like the No. 1 spot in the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs.

Sure, the Wildcats already clinched no worse than a first-place tie in the division. But the Cats want it all, and to gain sole ownership of the title they have to beat Palo Alto on Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.

"They've really got things going," said Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico of the Vikings. "They really dominated Wilcox."

Paly ran its league record to 4-1 last Friday night with a 34-24 victory over Wilcox, a team many figured would challenge Los Gatos for the division championship this fall.

As it turns out, though, it's Palo Alto challenging Gatos for the crown. And Cattolico is hoping his Cats don't take the Vikings lightly.

"They're going to be sky high coming in," said the coach. "They've got a chance to go from nowhere to getting a share of the championship."

Cattolico figures his club has to set the tempo early and take charge of the game--much like the Wildcats did last Friday afternoon in a lopsided 48-0 nonleague win over Mountain View.

The Cats opened up a 21-0 first-quarter lead and were up 35-0 at intermission. With the officials running the clock throughout the second half (even after touchdowns), Gatos went on to record the 48-0 win to improve to 9-0 for the year.

Speedy senior back Justin Narragon carried just seven times, but he ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Derek Smith supported with eight carries for 84 yards and three TDs.

Los Gatos also added a couple of touchdowns on defense and special teams.

Brian Edwards returned a punt 63 yards for a first-period touchdown, and Joey Warren picked off a Mountain View pass and raced 35 yards for a score in the fourth.

Ben Frazier chipped in with six extra point kicks to round off the scoring for Los Gatos.

Vince Caviglia added 28 yards on four carries, and Warren had a run for 17 yards to support the Gatos ground effort. Through the air, Trent Edwards completed a couple of passes to Kevin Krug for 101 yards, and Tony Berry hooked up with Geno Gengery for six yards

Despite the offensive numbers, Gatos ran just 28 plays to 50 for Mountain View. But the LG defense stood firm and didn't allow the Spartans to get into the end zone.

Mike Vyhnal led the defensive effort with nine tackles, and B. Edwards, Warren and Briston Lowry were in on seven tackles each. B. Edwards and Warren each intercepted passes.

Jon Glage was in on six tackles for the Cats, Nick Skrabe and Brandon Chapatte were in on five apiece, and Markus Willard, Kyle Shaffer, Dan Kramer and Steve Smith were in on four each.

Jason Rosa, D. Smith, Caviglia, Matt Spears, John McGuan, Casey Sargent, Randy Reilly, Ben Winkelman, Bret Maryon, Justin Draa and Matt Johnson were also in on tackles for the winners.

Los Gatos took the early lead when Narragon blasted over from the 1 to cap a three-play, 61-yard drive. B. Edwards had started it with an 11-yard punt return. Narragon took off for 49 yards, and Caviglia added 11 more to set up the TD run.

Narragon carried most of the load on a drive that led to a 3-yard TD run by Smith, and moments later B. Edwards returned the punt 63 yards for a score.

A 28-yard pass from T. Edwards to Krug, a 26-yard run by Smith and a 10-yard run by Caviglia set up Smith for a touchdown run from the 3.

Narragon got just one more carry in the first half (and in the game), and he broke it for 36 yards and a touchdown with only 1:30 left in the half.

A 73-yard toss from T. Edwards to Krug moved the Cats deep into Mountain View territory to open the second half, and Smith went 10 yards for the touchdown.

Later in the game, a 35-yard punt by Draa pushed the Spartans back into their end of the field, and two plays later Warren intercepted a pass and ran it back 35 yards for a touchdown.

Photo: Sunrise Cleanup

For parents, youth soccer isn't just a game

Photo: Day of the Dead

Photo: Woodhaven West concert

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Wildcats win cross country championships

Los Gatos football team defeats Palo Alto

Wildcats earn field hockey division championship

Kenny Heimer leads frosh-soph to win