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Los Gatos running back Chris Willard (16) was named the league's senior of the year after rushing for 1,710 yards and 32 touchdowns this past fall.
Photograph by Paul Myers
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Edwards is everyone's MVP
Wildcats win honors after 13-0 season
By Dick Sparrer
Talk about unanimous! It seems like everyone is in agreement this fall ... Trent Edwards was a pretty valuable player for the Los Gatos football team.
Edwards, the star senior quarterback at Gatos, led the Wildcats to a 13-0 season that included championships in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and the Central Coast Section Division III.
And just how important was Edwards in helping the Cats reach such levels in 2001? Well, he was picked the team's most valuable player, then the league's most valuable player and finally as the player of the year in the CCS.
Edwards had some pretty impressive numbers in the '01 campaign. The senior passer completed 154 of 213 passes for 2,535 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was intercepted only three times.
As a junior, Edwards had set a state record for completion percentage at 78.1 (125 of 160 for 2,550 yards and 29 TDs). He didn't match that mark this fall, but he came close with an impressive 72.3 completion mark.
But Edwards was just one of a number of talented players who helped put together the dream season at Los Gatos this fall. He topped a list of 18 Wildcats who won places on the 2001 De Anza Division all-league team.
Edwards was named the league's MVP, and he was one of five Gatos seniors to claim special honors on the all-league squad.
Jon Espe was named the outstanding defensive player, Chris Willard the outstanding senior, Geno Gingery the outstanding tight end and Scott Cohn the outstanding wide receiver.
Seniors winning all-league first team honors for the Wildcats were offensive tackle Nick Crafford, nose guard Kenny Heimer, center Dan Holtzman, guard Ryan Johnson and cornerback Charlie Clark, and juniors picked to the team included offensive tackle John Allen, inside linebacker Travis Howell and free safety Derek Tam.
Earning places on the all-league second team for the Cats were senior guard Evan McDonald, junior inside linebacker Eric Brown, senior place-kicker Anthony Frangadakis, junior outside linebacker Drew Hoffman and senior strong safety Chris McMorrow.
Holtzman, who went down with a season-ending knee injury midway through the year, and Edwards were each winners of National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete awards.
Edwards, Holtzman, Gingery and Crafford were the Gatos co-captains, and each won at least one other team award, announced at the squad's banquet held after the CCS championship game.
Edwards was the MVP of the squad and Crafford was named the best offensive lineman.
Holtzman and Gingery shared the team's most inspirational player award, and Holtzman also won the team award as the scholar-athlete.
Willard and Cohn were co-winners of the team's best offensive player award and Espe and Heimer shared the team's best defensive player award.
Junior Carter Wallace, who took over as the Gatos center when Holtzman was injured, won the team's most improved player award and senior Stuart Gordon won the Mr. Hustle award.
Willard and Cohn were honored for their offensive efforts after putting up big numbers for the Cats this fall.
Willard led the ground attack with 258 carries for 1,710 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 321 yards and two more TDs.
Cohn was the club's leading receiver with 62 catches for 969 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gingery snapped 42 tosses for 721 yards and 10 TDs and Tam had 20 grabs for 336 yards and four scores.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
