Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Los Gatos tight end Vince Posner picks up a block from John Stengele (2) as he moves up the field against Fremont. Posner hauled in two passes last Friday night to help the Wildcats to a 37-8 win over Homestead.

Cats, Chargers in a big one

First place is on the line Friday

By Dick Sparrer

Records can be deceiving.

Take Friday night's football match-up between Los Gatos and Wilcox, for example.

At first glance, it would seem that the powerful Chargers would be the heavy favorites, after all, they come into the game with a perfect 7-0 record, and the Wildcats are just 4-3. But a closer look reveals a more intense challenge.

The clubs each boast umblemished records in the rugged De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. The Chargers are 3-0 in the division, and the Cats are 4-0. And, despite Los Gatos' three losses in the pre-season, this will be a big one.

"People keep telling me its the biggest game in the valley," said Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico. "I know that it's an important game for our kids.

"They felt that they should have played better in our first three ballgames," he added. "Now we have the chance to show people how good we are. It should be interesting."

It will be. The clubs will be playing for first place in the division when the Chargers visit Los Gatos on Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.

Los Gatos improved to 4-0 in league play with a hard-earned 37-8 win over Homestead.

"It was a tough one," Cattolico said of last Friday night's game. "I think the kids were looking ahead a little bit."

"We tried to tell them that Homestead was the defending champion, and that they had played Wilcox a lot tougher than the score indicated," he added. "But the kids still came out a little flat."

And because of it, the Wildcats found themselves down 8-3 early in the game.

"But once we got down to business, we played pretty well," he said.

Los Gatos "got down to business" in the second half, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to turn a 16-8 halftime lead into a lopsided 37-8 victory.

Gatos had hit the scoreboard first that night. Alan Rosa set up his own 22-yard field goal with a 46-yard run deep into Homestead territory.

The Mustangs gained a little inspiration, though, by keeping the Cats out of the end zone.

"That kind of picked Homestead up, and flattened us out a little bit," the coach said.

Homestead punched in for a touchdown and led 8-3 late in the first period. But Los Gatos went straight to work to regain the lead in the second quarter.

Ryan Sorahan tossed 35 yards to Austin Glover, and Rosa took it from there with a 30-yard touchdown run. The Cats missed the extra point attempt, but led 9-8.

"After that we seemed to settle down," Cattolico said.

The Wildcats took over near their own 30 inside the final three minutes of the first half and moved in for one more score.

Sorahan tossed 30 yards to Vince Posner and 32 yards to John Stengele to set up a four-yard touchdown run by Rosa. This time Rosa added the extra point kick, and the Cats were up 16-8 at the half.

The second half was all Los Gatos.

"In the second half our offense seemed to be able to move the ball at will," the coach said.

Gatos marched right down the field. Rosa ran for 23 yards, and Sorahan hit Posner for 21. Rosa carried three times for 11 yards and a first down before pulling in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sorahan. His extra point kick made it 23-8.

Homestead started to move, but Anthony Fitzgerald recovered a fumble at the 15 to start the Mustangs' drive.

A 58-yard pass from Sorahan to Fitzgerald sent the Cats back down the field in a hurry, and Rosa capped the drive with a four yard run for the TD. His kick made it 30-8.

The Los Gatos defense closed out the scoring. Austin Neale hit the Homestead tailback to force a fumble, and Fitzgerald scooped up the loose ball and raced 31 yards for a touchdown. Rosa's kick made the final 37-8.

Rosa and Sorahan each finished the night with big numbers against Homestead for the Wildcats.

Rosa carried 21 times for 201 yards and also caught two passes for 39 more. He scored four touchdowns, and kicked four extra points and a field goal.

Sorahan hooked up on seven of 11 passes for 215 yards and the one touchdown. He hit Posner twice for 51 yards, Fitzgerald once for 58, Glover once for 35 and Stengele once for 32.

Steve LaBarbera supported Rosa's effort on the ground with four carries for 26 yards.

Glover led the Gatos defensive effort with 12 tackles. LaBarbera and Mike Manson were in on 10 tackles apiece.

"Without a doubt, (Manson) played his best football game of the season," Cattolico said.

Neale was in on nine tackles, including the one that forced a fumble to set up the Fitzgerald touchdown. Fitzgerald had two fumble recoveries in the win.

Charlie Cucco was in on eight tackles, and Chris Cavanagh and Andro Radonich were in on seven apiece.

The Wildcats were playing without the services of senior noseguard Enzo Iacomini, who was out with a leg injury. He's expected to return for the Wilcox game this week.

Los Gatos, Wilcox, and Palo Alto each enter play this week unbeaten in division action.

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