Wildcats exceed goals with title, 10-0 record
By Dick Sparrer
Dale Gustafson set a couple of goals for the Los Gatos frosh-soph football team before the 2000 season began: To challenge for the league title, and to win at least eight games.
Well, the young Wildcats reached and exceeded those goals well before the end of the 2000 campaign.
Los Gatos clinched the league championship with its ninth win of the season, then surpassed any preseason goals with a 39-14 victory over Monta Vista on the final night of the year.
Gatos wrapped up a 10-0 season with the win over the Matadors, and also posted a 6-0 mark in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
"This was a total team effort this year," said Gustafson after the final win of the season. "We had four different guys lead us in rushing; defense set the tone in every game; and our special teams kept giving us great field position.
"This is a great group of guys."
Quarterback Alex Rollins sparked the Wildcats to the win over Monta Vista last Friday. He hooked up on six of eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown to lead Gatos to the victory.
"Alex played his best game," said Gustafson. "He was calm, made his reads and threw some great passes. We would love to have given him more opportunities, but we wanted everyone to play."
The Cats scored on their first five possessions to open up a 32-0 lead against the Matadors.
Zac Tabb led the ground attack with five carries for 86 yards, including touchdown runs of 2 and 51 yards. Dennis Freeman added 56 yards on five carries, including a 13-yard TD run, and Brian Miguel finished the night with five carries for 21 yards, including touchdown runs of 3 and 7 yards.
Brett Cavanaugh took off on a 25-yard run for the Cats and Danny Bates had an 18-yard dash. Rollins scrambled for a 13-yard pickup, and Ryan Daily, John Davidge, Jeff Olson, Adam Breslin and Matt Miguel also picked up yardage for the Cats.
Derek Tam hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Rollins. Tam finished the night with two catches for 45 yards, Scott Drew had two grabs for 23 yards.
|
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
