Los Gatos storms back in big way
Wildcats get first win over Wilcox in four seasons
High School Football: Wildcats overcome 19-0 deficit to beat Wilcox for De Anza title.
SANTA CLARA >> The one game Adam Garwood didn’t lift Los Gatos on his shoulders, the senior running back still pushed the Wildcats’ winning touchdown across the goal line.
Los Gatos trailed Wilcox by as many as 19 points and did not lead until the final 2 minutes, when, with an assist from Garwood, senior receiver Kyle Pinkham ran, then rammed, into the end zone after hauling in a pass from senior quarterback Alex Grado. The Wildcats scored the final 20 points of their 20-19 victory, which delivered them their first win over Wilcox in four seasons and at least a share of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division title.
“When we knew we were going to play five games, the guys said let’s go 5-0, why not?” coach Mark Krail said. “Our defense played great, threw a shut out in the second half. Our running game struggled, and that’s what we’ve hung out hats on for the first three games, so we had to throw it, and even when we threw it, it turned out disastrous at times. But to these kids’ credit, we kept getting stops and getting the ball back and kept making plays.”
Wilcox opened a 19-0 advantage in the first half with a trio of interceptions, including a pick-six, while also shutting down Garwood
and Los Gatos’ prolific rushing attack. Garwood, who entered the game with a Ccs-best 467 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, was limited to 20 yards and ran the ball only three times after halftime; he also hauled in three passes for 64 yards.
Instead, it was Grado who led a pair of two-minute drills at the end of each half that accounted for two of the Wildcats’ three touchdowns.
With less than 4 minutes to play, the Los Gatos defense forced Wilcox to punt. Grado, his team trailing 19-14, instantly completed three passes to take Los Gatos across midfield, then connected for 16 yards to senior Carson Gardner to bring them within two yards of the red zone. On the next play, Grado found Pinkham in the flat, and the senior receiver raced to the end zone with Garwood trailing close behind.
“I knew from the first snap (of the drive) that we were going to put it in the end zone somehow,” Grado said.
LEIGH 42, PIONEER 14 >> Leigh moved one step closer to a perfect season April 8, scoring 28 points in the third quarter to break open a Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division game that was tied at halftime.
The Longhorns, playing on their home field in San Jose, went on to defeat Pioneer to improve to 4-0 in this five-game spring season.
Pioneer fell to 2-2.
Only rival Branham stands between Leigh and a 5-0 finish. The teams are scheduled to play on Saturday at Branham.
SOBRATO 21, WILLOW GLEN 20 >> Sobrato rallied from a 20-8 deficit, scoring two touchdowns in the game’s final five minutes to come away with the one-point win. It was the first victory of the season for the Bulldogs (1-3). Willow Glen is 0-4.
Getting the ball back on their own 20 with three minutes to go, the Bulldogs drove 80 yards, with sophomore quarterback Seth Hernstedt hitting 6-3, 235-pound tight end Seth Iven from 15 yards out to even the score at 20-20 with 38 seconds remaining. Iven then booted the point after, providing Sobrato with its margin of victory.
Nathan Ortiz scored Sobrato’s first two touchdowns on 2-yard runs in the second and fourth quarters.
“Ortiz was the player of the game,” second-year coach Jubenal Rodriguez said.
WESTMONT 42, BRANHAM 35>> Branham was unable to stay undefeated in the BVAL Santa Teresa Division standings as Westmont picked off two passes, blocked a punt and got a game-clinching touchdown pass from Zackary Zepeda to Adrian Vargas.
Zepeda threw three touchdown passes and ran for a TD. Running back Adolfo Carrasco had two touchdowns, and Elijah Monroe had a TD and a 70-yard kickoff return to set up another Westmont touchdown.
Branham’s Nick Bandanza threw for 493 yards and four touchdowns, completing 35 of 53 attempts. Two of his passes were intercepted. The yardage ranks No. 3 all-time among recorded Central Coast Section single-game totals, according to Cal-hi Sports. NO. 4 VALLEY CHRISTIAN 36, BELLARMINE COLLEGE PREP 0 >> Jake Odjegbu ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries and a defense led by San Diego State-bound end Dominic Oliver kept the hosts off the scoreboard as Valley won its second consecutive game since opening the season with a loss to Serra. “Playing well has kind of taken on a whole different definition these days,” Valley coach Mike Machado said. “We’re just in beginning-of-the-season mode with the number of practices. That’s where we would be. We’re still making mistakes, penalties, but we’re getting better. Some of our playmakers are making bigger plays.”
LIVE OAK 33, LELAND 21 >> Having dominated its league opponents so far this season, Live Oak continued its success with a 12-point win against Leland. Acorns coach Mike Gemo said that his team played well. “We ran the ball really well tonight and we played really good defense in the second half,” Gemo said. “It was a good all-around game for us.” Sophomore running back Jordan Fuentes was the standout player of the game, carrying 32 times for 212 yards and a touchdown.