LOS GATOS, Calif. -- Los Gatos was down by just 10 points with possession of ball and had over eight minutes to come back. It seemed as though there would be a tight finish to the semifinal round of the CCS Open Division II playoffs on Friday, but then the visiting Archbishop Mitty Monarchs had other plans.
Wildcat quarterback Kyle Reid lofted a pass nearing the red zone was then picked off by Monarch Keaton Collier, and the senior defensive back returned it 75 yards to the house. The sudden turn of events was a large last straw; in which it would ultimately decide who would go on to the finals. Archbishop Mitty wound up on top, 24 -7, thanks to the clutch defensive plays and consistent offense.
Mitty came into the CCS playoffs as a six seed with a losing league record. Yet, they’ve managed to fight their way to the last stage of the bracket, overcoming two road games against higher seeded teams. Their win propels them to a final matchup against the Serra Padres, who just defeated a talented St. Francis squad for the second time this season.
"It feels great to be a part of this program,” Mitty head coach Keith Burns said after the win. “The whole Mitty community is outstanding. It’s a tough football conference, but if you stay healthy, you have a chance to come out the other side and do big things.”
The offense Mitty runs isn’t anything out of the ordinary, however their success in the running read options keep the flow and tempo of their play going. Senior quarterback Phillip Tran has been a great addition to the team since transferring before last season, and has improved as a player throughout his current campaign.
“I give props to my team and Los Gatos,” said Tran. “We came out and we showed what we’re capable of. We handled our business and executed, and the scoreboard showed how we played.”
Tran threw for 85 yards on 9-of-12 passing that included one interception, but the stats don’t reveal the true value he brings to the team. His read-option sidekick, running back Zondre Farajwashington, had another monster game. His 140 yards came on just 20 carries, and he also ran for two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a 64-yard gut puncher that came on the opening possession of the game.
Los Gatos played well on both sides of the ball, but costly mistakes here and there kept them from reaching past the goal line more than the single time they were able to. Senior quarterback Kyle Reid was on pace for another fantastic performance, but a couple mistakes hindered the positive outcome. Reid went 19-of-32 for 195 yards and a touchdown pass, while also throwing two interceptions.
The Los Gatos offense is very spread out and balanced when it comes to talent, allowing Reid to use many different players in separate situations. The Wildcats had 160 yards on the ground, using players like Jake Clyne to take the ball and run. Clyne, a senior tailback, went for 55 yards on 7 carries. Andrew Stewart, a senior as well, had 5 catches for 46 yards and a touchdown from the wideout position.
“This team started out 1-3 going into league and then got the ball rolling,” head Wildcat coach Mark Krail. “Unfortunately it came to an end tonight. We turned the ball over and didn’t finish drives, and it’s a lot of, 'would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.' Going up against a team like Mitty, we can’t beat them when we don’t give them our best.”
Penalties quickly became a theme to the game, with the two teams having a combined 15 flags thrown for 110 yards. Turnovers were a theme as well, which means they could’ve and ultimately decided the outcome of the game. The first turnover of the game was a fumble in the first minutes of the second half, but it didn’t affect the game as much as it could’ve. The biggest turnovers were the two Reid interceptions, with both coming back to back. They came in the first part of the fourth quarter, with one setting up a Farajwashington rushing touchdown and the other being the almost climatic pick-six by Collier.
The game itself looked as though it would be a shootout. Farajwashinton started things off with a 64-yard sprint up the middle of the field with just a few minutes played. The Wildcats were able to respond just as the second quarter started. Reid lofted a pass into the front left of the endzone, and Stewart was somehow able to jump up and complete the 20-yard touchdown. A 21-yard field goal by the Monarchs gave them a small 10-7 lead going in the half, and as it turned out, they were the game-winning points.
The second half was all Mitty, with the Monarchs halting the Wildcats each time they inched their way closer to scoring. Mitty’s capitalization of the Los Gatos mistakes gave them the edge that was needed. Farajwashington scored his second touchdown on a 6-yard run after a Reid interception, and on the next Wildcat possession Collier sealed the deal with a 75-yard pick-six.
“It feels fantastic,” Farajwashington said. “We have to continue to play hard, and fight for our lives next week.”
A few injuries on the Monarch side were sustained, including junior linebacker Slader Basso and senior two-way star Austin Kause. Their health will be accessed shortly, as their bodies will be needed to go up against the surging Serra Padres next week.
