Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Justin Narragon ran for over 1,500 yards for the Wildcats this fall, and he ran right to the MVP award in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.

Narragon runs to De Anza most valuable player honor

By Dick Sparrer

It was a bitter pill to swallow.

But after an impressive run through the first 11 weeks of the season, the Los Gatos football team lost to Mitty in the Central Coast Section Division III semifinals.

The Wildcats were stunned and their outstanding 1999 spoiled--or so it may have seemed at the time.

But just like a spoonful of sugar will help the medicine go down, so, too, can a truck full of postseason honors take the sting away from a season-ending loss.

And the Wildcats certainly walked away with a truck full of honors when the coaches of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's De Anza Division picked their all-league team.

Why shouldn't they? After all, the Cats dominated the six weeks of the league season, and the coaches in the division recognized that fact by honoring no less than 23 Gatos players on the all-league squad.

In fact, the Wildcats dominated the first 11 weeks of the '99 campaign. They rolled to an 11-0 record, including a 6-0 mark in the De Anza Division and a first-round victory in the CCS playoffs. The loss to Mitty left the Cats with an 11-1 mark for the season.

Justin Narragon, Jared Allen, Ben Winkelman and Joey Warren each won special awards to top the list of Wildcats honored with all-league recognition.

Narragon was named the league's most valuable player after a sensational senior season for the Wildcats. Narragon, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards during the regular season for Gatos, was also picked as the most valuable player by his teammates.

Allen was named the league's outstanding defensive player, Winkelman the outstanding tight end receiver and Warren the outstanding junior in the De Anza Division.

Along with the four players earning special honors, 10 Wildcats were named to the all-league first team, four to the all-league second team and five to the all-league honorable mention list.

Tackles Mike Belsheim and Ryan O'Gorman, center Nick Cisowski, wide receiver Kevin Krug and quarterback Matt Torres were named to the first-team offense, and lineman Briston Lowry, linebacker Nick Skrabe, noseguard Vince Caviglia and safeties Brian Edwards and Markus Willard were picked to the first-team defense.

Guard Rick Esparza, linebacker Brandon Chapatte, cornerback Scott Soucy and quarterback Trent Edwards were each honored with spots on the all-league second team.

Claiming spots on the honorable mention list were defensive lineman Steve Smith, place-kicker Ben Frazier, linebacker Jon Glage, offensive guard Nick McAlpine and running back Derrick Smith.

Joining Narragon among the winners of team awards were: Allen--best defensive player; O'Gorman and Belsheim--co-outstanding offensive linemen; Lowry--outstanding defensive lineman; Warren--outstanding offensive back; B. Edwards--outstanding defensive back; Caviglia--most inspirational player; Torres--most improved player; Winkelman--scholar athlete; Shane Rogers--Mr. Hustle; and Caviglia, Torres, Esparza and Winkelman--co-captains.

Winkelman was also named a National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete for Santa Clara County.

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Narragon runs to De Anza most valuable player honor