When the Peninsula Athletic League and the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League merged two years ago, the Los Gatos Wildcats were something of a wild card to Menlo-Atherton head coach Chris Saunders.
Saunders had never coached against Los Gatos previously. In two PAL Bay Division meetings over the past two seasons, the Bears’ fifth-year head coach has gotten a quick introduction to the Wildcats’ sophisticated Wing-T offense.
“LG is LG,” Saunders said. “The sun will rise tomorrow morning; LG is going to run that offense.”
M-A is now saddled with a lifetime 0-2 record against Los Gatos in PAL Bay play, getting outscored a cumulative 61-20 in those two meetings. The Bears’ new-look defense, however, is looking to change that when the two teams meet in Friday’s PAL Bay Division opener, set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Coach Parks Field.
“I think the gamesmanship, that chess element, game play … this time around we’re going to see that a little bit more in play,” Saunders said.
Unlike previous years when M-A has relied on a three-man defensive front, this year the Bears have played primarily a four-man front, and have held opponents to a cumulative 45 points through five non-league games.
“It all starts up front, there’s no doubt about it,” Saunders said. “Our d-line is pretty impressive, I think, with what they’ve been able to do so far, and just with our depth too.”
Senior edge rusher Devin Hyde is M-A’s most dynamic weapon. The 6-5, 240-pound University of Washington commit has been a double-team magnet through the first half of M-A’s regular-season schedule.
Hyde has been much more than a defensive standout, though. Not only does he rank third on the team in tackles, he plays every down both ways, doubling as an offensive tackle.
“He’s really grown into that and has become that guy who’s an absolute menace up front,” Saunders said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s offense or defense. He’s dominant.”
Hyde’s reputation has created mismatches at other spots, with senior linebacker Anthony Van der Meer seizing on the opportunity. At 6-3, 200 pounds, Van der Meer leads the Bears with 30 tackles and two sacks on the year.
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M-A’s defense will be up against a Los Gatos offense that looks fairly similar to the one they face in practice every day. Like M-A, Los Gatos has seen two quarterbacks spilt time this season, with senior Scotty Brennan and junior Callum Schweitzer both taking reps. Brennan is 36-of-53 passing for 500 yards and three touchdowns this season, while Schweitzer is 19-of-30 for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears have implemented a similar platoon system at quarterback since senior Xander Eschelman was activated Sept. 20, against Live Oak. Through two games, Eschelman is 10-of-16 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Teddy Dacey has been the picture of efficiency through those two games, complete 13 of 16 passes. Dacey is 57-of-83 for 666 yards on the year with eight touchdowns.
“Our quarterback position is such a strength for us,” Saunders said. “It’s not just their ability, it’s very much who they are. And they are very much leading this team.”
Los Gatos junior Max Thomas, a 6-5, 190-pound wide receiver, has been his team’s biggest skill weapon, totaling 19 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Over a dozen players have rushed the ball for the Wildcats, led by junior Grayson Doslak, with 42 carries for 293 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging seven yards per carry.
M-A has an array of weapons, with junior running back Evaimalo Ama sitting on 388 total yards (250 rushing, 138 receiving), junior running back Monty Turner with 248 total yards (189 rushing, 59 receiving), and senior running back Angelo Marin with 271 total yards (99 rushing, 172 receiving).
“This is probably the most spread out dispersement … that I’ve ever coached,” Sauders said.
That goes for the passing game as well, though junior wide receiver JT Roeder has been the biggest playmaker. At 6-1, 160 pounds, the split end is averaging 77.7 yards per game receiving, with 233 yards and five touchdown catches in this his first varsity season.
“He’s quicker than he looks and he’s very reliable,” Saunders said. “He’s got big-play ability and he’s also got the ability to be just a really consistent guy.”
Los Gatos won its first four games of the season until running into Nor Cal power Pittsburg last week. The Wildcats scored two touchdowns in a 37-20 loss, with senior kicker Jake Gerber booting two field goals, of 30 and 24 yards, respectively.
M-A has won two straight since taking its only loss of the year, Sept. 13, 21-0 to Mitty. The Bears faced two West Catholic Athletic League opponents in non-league play. Prior to Mitty, M-A opened the season with a 40-10 win against Bellarmine.
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