SAN MATEO, CA - If there was any doubt that Los Gatos belonged in the CCS Open Division, it didn't last long.
In what was one of the most anticipated matchups of the first round of the CCS playoffs, Los Gatos made shockingly quick work of host Serra, handing the Padres a 28-0 loss to advance to the Open Division semifinals.
The Wildcats (9-2) will next face Sacred Heart Prep (11-0), which defeated Oak Grove 37-13 Saturday afternoon.
Los Gatos ended all doubt late in the third quarter when junior Jake Holton picked off a pass inside the Serra 10-yard line. Senior running back Joey Wood scored his second touchdown of the game on a two-yard run to give the Wildcats a 28-0 lead.
"We treat every game like it's a big win and also as a championship game, and we knew that we compete with anybody in this league," Wood said after his team took down the WCAL champions. "We knew that we could compete anyone no matter the circumstances and shut down the defending CCS Champions. Put Los Gatos on the map."
Wood finished with 55 yards rushing on 15 carries, but it was a catch out of the backfield that swung the game in the Wildcats' favor.
Leading 7-0 on a one-yard sneak by senior quarterback Dru Brown, Los Gatos scored again on its second possession. Wood took a screen pass from Brown and raced 58 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
"It was just pretty easy on my part by just slipping the pass to Joey, and for him to make the touchdown, and the offensive line doing their job," said Brown.
The Padres were unable to take advantage of a fumble recovery late in he first quarter as the Los Gatos defense was stout all afternoon. The Wildcats took advantage of a Serra turnover in the second quarter when Brown hit a wide-open Matt Wilcox for a 5-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 21-0.
"We obviously put in hours and hours of film, but when you do your homework there are things you find about the opposition," Los Gatos coach Mark Krail said. "We prepared our guys to match their personnel, covered the pass very well, and no one has really run against us - we have been pretty consistent all year long."
The Los Gatos defense forced five turnovers - including two interceptions - and held Serra to under 200 yards of total offense.
"I'm very proud of our guys and these are great football teams this time of year," Krail said. "I think we proved to the world that Los Gatos belongs in the Open Division - especially this year."
