SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In a battle worthy of a league championship showdown, visiting Los Gatos rallied late to edge Wilcox 24-21 to capture at least a share of the PAL-Bay championship.
Down 21-17 with just two minutes remaining, the Wildcats embarked on an 80-yard drive to pull out the victory. Los Gatos utilized its running game, anchored by senior Boxer Kopcsak-Young, who capped off the winning drive with a touchdown run with 23 seconds left. The Chargers attempted to score in the limited time they had left, forcing a long-range pass into Wildcats territory, which was intercepted at the buzzer by defensive back Jaylen Thomas.
Wilcox (6-3, 4-1 PAL-Bay) and Los Gatos (7-2, 4-0) have been familiar foes – the two teams have played one another every season for over two decades.
"It feels like no matter what league we’re in, we always seem to face off against each other,” said Los Gatos head coach Mark Krail. “Every year we look through the schedule and circle Wilcox. They are a tough opponent.”
Both teams went into the matchup with an undefeated league record and have been neck-and-neck in the fight for the number one spot in the PAL-Bay Division throughout the season.
The Wildcats took an early lead on Friday night, taking a 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. The lead was largely attributed to a blocked Wilcox punt by tight end Owen Panu, and the ball was swiftly run into the end zone by Kopcsak-Yeung with 1:24 left in the quarter. By the end of the first half, the Chargers utilized their passing game to get deep into Wildcats territory and tie the score.
Krail emphasized what allowed the team to cap off the close game with a victory: “Our defense played great. Wilcox has an awesome running game and our defense was able to hold them down.”
As a team with a run-heavy offense, the Chargers carry the ball for a season average of 311 yards. The Wildcats' defensive unit broke down their opponent’s running game, forcing the Chargers to rush for a below-average 280 yards on the night.
“It was a tough loss,” said Wilcox head coach Paul Rosa. “We made many mistakes that cost us in the end.”
With this victory, the Wildcats extend their winning streak to four and become the number one seed in the PAL-Bay Division. In their final regular season games next Friday night, the Wildcats travel back home to play Menlo-Atherton while the Chargers, who have wrapped up league play, remain at home to face their cross-town rival Santa Clara.
