Advancing to its first-ever CIF State Championship Bowl Game last season is still fresh in the minds of the Los Gatos High football team.
After all, the Wildcats played that contest—a 45-42 loss to Central Valley Christian in the Division 2-A final—just seven months ago. The 2023 season was a historic one for the perennial powerhouse program, which finished 12-3 and included a fourth consecutive league championship, a Central Coast Section title and a NorCal playoff victory over El Cerrito.
“Most of the guys on the team now were with us for that playoff run, so they got a nice taste firsthand of what it feels like to win a CCS championship and NorCal Bowl Game,” said Mark Krail, who is entering his 12th season as the Los Gatos coach. “Obviously, the icing on the cake was going to Pasadena and playing CVC–that was an experience they will always cherish and the ones who are back have it fresh in their mind what a great time it was, and that maybe that’s where we would love to get again.”
Long established as one of the premier programs in the CCS, the Wildcats have talent and plenty of depth as their 70-man roster indicates. The numbers allow for competition at nearly every position, creating a dynamic environment in which players are constantly pushing each other and improving.
Krail said the team is particularly deep at linebacker, a unit that includes RJ Cannan, Austin Krug, Andrew Sandoval and Mason Wend.
“We’ve got maybe eight kids we feel like we can put out there and play linebacker and that doesn’t include Henry (Masters),” said Krail, referring to the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior who earned Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division first team honors last season but has been playing safety all summer. “Henry is such a mature kid, so fun to coach and has got a great outlook on things. I’ll ask guys sometimes, ‘Alright, who’s going to lift us up?’ It’s always Henry. He provides juice for our team.”
Masters also figures to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball as one of the team’s running backs. Brayden Smith and Hayden Benjamin will also figure into the run game, and as is the case most years, Krail expects other players to emerge at some point in the season and make an impact at running back.
The offensive line should be stout again with returning starters Matt Ludeman and Leo Cocchiglia. Ludeman, a 6-2, 258-pound center, earned PAL Bay Division Co-Offensive Linemen of the Year honors last season. Cocchiglia, a 6-4, 245-pound senior and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo-commit, plays the team’s strong guard position.
“Leo will be a stalwart on the O-line, for sure,” Krail said. “We build around him because our guards pull a lot and are really active in our offense. And Matt is as solid as it gets. He’s very smart, makes all the line calls, has gotten stronger in the off-season and is our leader on the offensive line.”
Cocchiglia also can play on the defensive line, but Krail’s preference would be for his linemen to go one way to lessen the wear and tear on their body and maximize their effectiveness.
Owen Panu, a returning first team all league tight end, was a big-time playmaker toward the end of the 2023 season.
“Owen played great for us at tight end and he’s gotten bigger, is a little taller and has had a great camp,” Krail said.
Returning junior wide receiver Max Thomas has impressed Krail and excelled in the seven-on-seven summer season. Fellow junior Beau Musser also has the potential to be an impact player in the pass game.
Speaking of passing, one of the team’s biggest question marks comes at the all-important quarterback position.
As of Aug. 18, Krail said the starting spot was still to be determined.
“We’ve got five quarterbacks–that’s an embarrassment of riches,” Krail said. “Right now the competition really seems to be Scotty Brennan and Callum Schweitzer, who was the starter on the JV team that went undefeated last year. He’s taken a lot of snaps (in practice). One thing he lacks is varsity experience. But he’s a really good football player, and he knows how to run a game—and knows our offense well.”
Last season, Brennan saw some action as the backup QB, showing flashes of brilliance.
“Scotty didn’t start any games last year, but early on he was on the field quite a bit,” Krail said. “Scotty had quite a good resume of experience that first half of the year, and he’s got that under-the-lights experience under his belt. So, it’s going to be a great competition for that position.”
Franklin White III and Jake Gerber are returning starters on the defensive line, while Leon Sarashki can play cornerback and safety.
Los Gatos opens the season at Soquel High on Aug. 30 at 7:30pm.
