November 09, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Chance to win it all

by Keith Peters

History is against the Palo Alto High football team whenever it plays Los Gatos. In fact, the Vikings have beaten the Wildcats only once since 1993.

That first and only triumph, however, was a special one. It came in 1995, earned the Vikings second place in the SCVAL De Anza Division and kick-started the postseason that ended in the school's first and only Central Coast Section championship.

Should Palo Alto register its second-ever win over visiting Los Gatos on Friday at 7:30 p.m., it, too, will be special.

"We want an outright title," said Paly coach Earl Hansen. "We want to be with the elite teams at Paly that have beaten Los Gatos."

Palo Alto (5-0, 8-1) already has assured itself of at least a co-championship, thanks to last Friday's 14-0 upending of Wilcox (4-1, 8-1) in a showdown for sole possession of first place.

"We're champions," Hansen said. "The other two (Los Gatos and Wilcox) have to win to be co-champions."

Paly will be seeking its first outright league title since 1992. The Vikings defeated Wilcox that season but did not play Los Gatos, which had yet to join the league. Paly did beat Los Gatos last year, but it was the Vikings' JV team that accomplished that feat.

Nick Goodspeed was the quarterback in that game, leading the JV team to a 10-0 season and league title. Goodspeed, however, most likely will miss Friday's game to give his right shoulder another week to heal.

Goodspeed suffered a slight shoulder separation on Oct. 28 during Paly's 15-12 win over Mountain View.

"It's really not a serious injury," Hansen said. "He just can't throw."

Goodspeed's right shoulder popped out when he pushed himself off the turf following a play in the first quarter. The shoulder immediately popped back into place but remained sore throughout the game - perhaps why Goodspeed had a season-low 82 passing yards in that game.

"He knew it," Hansen said of Goodspeed's injury, "but I didn't. He played the whole game that way."

Goodspeed had an MRI on his shoulder last week and missed last Friday's win over Wilcox, which was ranked No. 8 in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle. Senior Jon Koepfgen started at quarterback and guided a run-oriented offensive attack. Koepfgen threw only six times, completing three as Paly played mistake-free.

The Vikings, however, forced five turnovers and turned two into first-quarter touchdowns.

Forced to punt on its first possession, Wilcox turned the ball over on a bad snap that Paly's Kevin Dexter recovered at the 8-yard line. Two plays later, fellow junior Will Frazier scored from four yards out.

On the Chargers' next possession, senior halfback Derome Fowler fumbled and Paly junior defensive back Trenton Hart grabbed the ball in midair. Paly took over at the Wilcox 24 and scored shortely thereafter when senior Roger Prince ran it in from five yards out.

From there, it was a defensive battle. Paly allowed Wilcox inside the 20 only three times. One drive ended with a fumble (with Hart recovering at the Paly 12), one on downs and a third on a missed field goal.

Paly did a good job limiting Fowler (109 yards on 21 carries) and quarterback Matt Fultcher (64 yards on 13 carries).

"They never got loose," Hansen said. "They couldn't get a quick score . . . Our kids did a great job."

Clearly, it was Paly's best defensive effort of the season and it came in the biggest game. Teddy Jones and Cooper Miller both had interceptions, with Hart recovering the two fumbles. Dennis Pruzan and John Hall also were among the defensive standouts.

Without Goodspeed, who had been averaging more than 180 passing yards per game, Paly gained only 123 yards in total offense against Wilcox. That kind of effort won't get it done Friday against Los Gatos.

"We're going to have to muster some more offense," Hansen said. "We're going to have to keep the ball away from those guys."

Los Gatos (4-1, 7-2) is more pass-oriented this season, which may play into Paly's strength at defensive back. No matter what, Palo Alto goes into the game with a nothing-to-lose attitude. The Vikings already have secured a CCS playoff berth.

"The worse thing that can happen is being co-champs," Hansen said.
Capuchino 9, Menlo 7

The Knights came up with their best defensive effort of the season and it still wasn't enough to prevent a loss to the PAL Ocean Division's No. 2 team.

Six Capuchino rushers combined for 296 yards, but Menlo kept all of them out of the end zone. The Mustangs scored on a safety in the first quarter, when the snap on a Menlo punt sailed out of the end zone. Capuchino made it 9-0 in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass play.

Menlo (3-3, 4-5) made it close when Anthony Bouvier hit Ricky Hawkins for a 72-yard scoring play on a halfback option pass. Hawkins finished with six catches for 104 yards, but the Knights' rushing attack gained just 17 yards.

Menlo will close out its season Saturday at home against Jefferson at 2 p.m.
Monta Vista 30, Gunn 18

The Titans (2-3, 3-6) will close out their season Friday night against Los Altos (4-1, 6-3) at Foothill College at 7:30 p.m.

Cory Babbington scored on runs of six and 28 yards, but it wasn't enough to prevent Gunn from falling to visiting Monta Vista last Friday. The Matadors returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to set the tone of the game.
Terra Novs 62, M-A 13

Junior quarterback Efalame Wolfgramm completed 18 of 32 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns but the Bears' defense gave up a season-high 62 points in a lopsided setback to Terra Nova last Friday.

Menlo-Atherton (0-6, 1-8) closes out its worst PAL Bay Division season this decade on Thursday when the Bears visit Woodside on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Bay Football League

Sacred Heart Prep (3-2, 5-4) closes out its season Saturday against visiting Berean Christian at 2 p.m.

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