The Los Gatos High football team has recently enjoyed some of its best seasons in program history, including an appearance in the CIF State Championship Division 2-A Bowl Game last year.
With a top-notch coaching staff, talent at every position and a storied tradition, it’s little wonder the Wildcats are able to reload year after year. With just three games left in the regular-season, they enter the home stretch as the favorite to repeat as Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division champions.
Los Gatos (6-1 overall, 2-0 league) closes the league slate with contests against Menlo School, Wilcox and Palo Alto. If the Wildcats finish as league champs, they will be seeded in the Central Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs.
Los Gatos entered summer camp with four players who were battling for the starting quarterback position.
Two of those quarterbacks–senior Scotty Brennan and junior Callum Schweitzer–have taken the reins and split playing time under center.
Both players have displayed poise and been instrumental in the team’s success. Brennan, who helped lead the Los Gatos boys basketball team to a CCS Division I championship last year, has patiently waited his turn to shine on the gridiron.
Limited game action as the backup QB last season didn’t stunt Brennan’s progress. In a 21-14 win over Menlo-Atherton on Oct. 11, Brennan completed 14 of 22 passes for 144 yards while running for 50 more, a big chunk coming on a career-long 45 yard run off the read option.
“That was my top (individual) highlight of the season so far,” he said. “I thought I had the touchdown, but obviously I was too slow so I couldn’t get to the end zone. I was pretty close, so I was a little disappointed in myself.”
The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Brennan credited the offensive line for allowing him to have his best game of the season. Center Matt Ludeman and guard Leo Cocchiglia–a Cal Poly-commit–are two of the best at their position.
“Matt is a baller and super tough,” Brennan said. “I’ve played my whole high school career with him, and he’s as consistent as they come. And Leo is a big kid and it’s really fun having him block for me.”
Grayson Doslak and Hayden Benjamin have been impressive running the ball, while Max Thomas leads a deep wide receiving corps. The 6-4, 195-pound junior has been an ultra-reliable target in the Wildcats’ passing game.
“Max is a really big target and really easy to throw to,” Brennan said. “I can always count on him to be in the right spot and get open.”
Tight end Owen Panu and Beau Musser have also been key contributors offensively, with Musser producing some impressive yards after the catch in the Menlo-Atherton game. Henry Masters came up huge defensively, swatting down a M-A lateral and returning it 35 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Masters has been the team’s Swiss Army Knife, playing inside and outside linebacker, safety and running back. Affectionately called “unc”—as in uncle—by his teammates because of his four years of experience playing on the varsity squad, Masters is the consummate leader.
“He’s a great leader who leads the scout defense at every practice and the scout offense,” Brennan said. “Everyone rallies around him and it seems like wherever he lines up, he performs well and is always at the right place at the right time.”
Brennan said senior Aurelio Valdez has been a “savage” on the defensive line, disrupting and busting up plays against the opposing offense.
“He’s super speedy, fun to watch and makes a bunch of big plays,” Brennan said.
At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Jake Gerber is an undersized lineman but plays bigger than his frame.
“Jake doesn’t look like a guy who will do damage, but he gets in there and does damage,” Brennan said.
Linebacker RJ Cannan’s ferocious play and work ethic in the weight room has impressed his teammates.
“RJ is one of the hardest workers in the gym I’ve ever seen,” Brennan said. “He put on an insane amount of weight over the summer, got faster, stronger and never takes a play off. It’s nice having him and Henry on defense. You feel super safe that one of them will make a play.”
Brennan is in the unique position of being the son of a FBS football coach. Brent Brennan was hired by the University of Arizona in January after seven successful seasons at San Jose State. Though it was great news for the Brennan family, those around Los Gatos High athletics could only wonder if Scotty’s junior year would be his last at the school.
However, Brennan’s mom, Courtney, decided to stay in Los Gatos for the 2024-2025 school year so Scotty could finish out his senior year with all of his friends.
“For a split second, moving to Arizona and being at a new school seemed kind of fun,” Brennan said. “But I knew I didn’t want to leave all my people so I’m super thankful my mom was willing to stay with me and be apart from my dad (temporarily).”
Scotty has already made a couple of trips to Tucson and spent time with the Arizona football team. He video chats with his dad at least a couple of times a week, so the transition hasn’t been terribly difficult.
“The dynamic hasn’t been too hard,” he said. “I miss dad most of the time, but it’s been good. I can call him anytime, ask him how Arizona football is doing, get some insight on that.”
Scotty’s final prep football season is shaping up to be his best yet. He’s been waiting for a moment like this, being under center, ball in his hands, every decision he makes having an effect on the game.
“Ever since the end of last season, I was just waiting for the opportunity to play and happy it came,” he said. “I really like playing football and wanted to be prepared for this year to start. I wanted to be the guy so that’s what I worked toward in the summer.”
