Big win for Los Gatos frosh-soph
By Dick Sparrer
There have been seven wins for the Los Gatos frosh-soph football team this fall, but none was bigger than the win the Wildcats recorded recently over Homestead.
The Cats and Mustangs went into the game with matching 6-0 records, but Gatos pulled out a 28-21 victory to take over sole possession of first place in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
Homestead led 21-15 at intermission, but Brett Cavanaugh ran back an interception 37 yards for a touchdown in the third period and Brian Miguel scored on a 7-yard run in the fourth to clinch the win for the Wildcats.
"This was the first game that we fell behind," said Gatos coach Dale Gustafson. "In fact, we had only given up seven points the whole season in the first half."
"I was very happy with our guys never quitting and in fact taking over the game in the second half," he added. "Homestead has a very potent offense, and we shut them out in the second half. Our kids have a lot of heart and desire."
The Wildcats put together a game-winning 12-play, 78-yard drive that ate up six minutes of the final quarter to clinch the victory. Miguel, who led the club with 16 carries for 98 yards, capped the march with his TD run.
"This drive was due to the offensive line's dominating the line of scrimmage," said Gustafson, praising the work of Logan Graf, Bryce Murray, Carter Wallace, Matt Rose and Matt Losch up front. "I was so proud of them as they continued to drive the defense back play after play."
Derek Tam had given Gatos the early lead in the game when he ran back the opening kick off 80 yards for a touchdown.
Homestead scored twice to go up 14-7, but the Cats battled back to regain the lead. Patrick Michaelson, who finished the night with 78 yards on eight carries, scored on a 48-yard run and ran in for the 2-point conversion to give Gatos a 15-14 advantage.
But the Mustangs scored before the half to take the 21-15 lead a the break.
That just set the stage for the second half heroics by Cavanaugh and Miguel.
Dennis Freeman and Alex Rollins each played key roles offensively for the Wildcats. Freeman carried 12 times for 91 yards in the win, and Rollins completed six of 13 passes for 87 yards.
The win helped the young Cats improve to 3-0 in league play. Los Gatos will play host to Saratoga on Nov. 3, 5:15 p.m., in league action. There will also be a reserves game between the Cats and Falcons on Nov. 4, 11 a.m., at Los Gatos.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
