All it took was a few big plays and a crucial penalty for the Los Gatos Wildcats (5-0-1, 2-0-1) to emerge the victors, 17-14, in last night’s mistake-filled game against the Palo Alto Vikings (4-2, 2-1). After some early turnovers, the Wildcats’ defense stifled a dangerous Palo Alto offense, and behind another stellar performance by Wildcat senior runningback Garret Zeiter, Los Gatos came out on top, avenging last year’s 42-0 blowout.
“To beat a team like that, there’s no question in my mind that you’ve got to play really hard and you’ve got to play well,” Los Gatos Head Coach Butch Cattolico said.
With less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Palo Alto defense forced a three-and-out from the Wildcats. However, on the ensuing punt, a member of the Vikings’ special teams unit made contact with Los Gatos’ kicker, provoking a penalty that resulted in an automatic first down.
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With about 45 seconds left to play, Wildcat senior quarterback Bryan Rose dropped back and heaved a pass deep down field. The ball sailed over the head of a Viking defender into the hands of Wildcat receiver Jake Bevans at the Palo Alto 14-yard line for a 39-yard play. A couple four-yard rushes by Zeiter brought Los Gatos to the six-yard line, where the Wildcats lined up for a potential game winning field goal. With 20 seconds left, sophomore kicker Logan Chapman booted the ball through the uprights, putting Los Gatos on top 17-14, to send their sideline into an uproar. On the proceeding kickoff, the Wildcats decided to squib kick, and somehow managed to recover the football. One kneel-down late and it was all over.
“We just got gouged on a couple big plays,” Palo Alto Defensive Coordinator Jake Halas said. “[Zeiter] got loose a few times, and on the that last [pass] it was a jump ball, and [Bevans] out jumped our sophomore.”
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Things had started promisingly for the Vikings, when senior linebacker Brennan Miller intercepted a Los Gatos screen pass early in the first quarter. Six minutes later, Palo Alto runningback Morris Gates-Mouton would punch it from two yards out for the first points of the game. Los Gatos fumbled on the kickoff and Palo Alto senior Justin Grey pounced on it at the Los Gatos 25-yard line, but the Vikings couldn’t capitalize on the great field position.
Two minutes in to the second quarter, Los Gatos handed the ball up to Zeiter, who burst up the middle and raced past the Viking secondary for a 45-yard touchdown, knotting up the score. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm with their offenses and the ball trading hands repeatedly. With 24.8 left in the half, Palo Alto went for it on fourth down from the Los Gatos 11-yard line. They tossed the ball out left to Gates-Mouton, who could not find a crack in the Wildcat defense, and was stuffed.
“We’ve got to execute,” Gates-Mouton said. “All 11 guys need to fly to the ball and wrap-up. We’re going to learn from this and it’s going to make us better.”
Two fumbles by Palo Alto runningback Dre Hill, a 19-yard touchdown scamper by Zeiter, and a failed Los Gatos field goal highlighted the third quarter. Zeiter rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
From deep inside Los Gatos territory, with 9:59 to play in the game, Viking sophomore quarterback Keller Chryst zipped a slant to his right to senior B.J. Boyd, who caught the ball in traffic for the 9-yard score. Chryst racked up 146 yards through the air and the touchdown, while Boyd, who dealt with constant double and triple-teams from the Los Gatos defense, reeled in four passes for 66 yards.
“You can’t beat a team like this and not feel like you made a statement,” Cattolico said.
Palo Alto will be making the drive to Saratoga next week for another 7:30 p.m. matchup on Friday night.
