By: Lucy Panicacci

Editor-in-Chief

Following a Division 1 CCS Championship win and their first NorCal title, Los Gatos High School Varsity Football launched into the 2024 season. Within their first few games, LG football continues to thrive.

Prior to the start of official play, varsity football held a team sleepover, spending the night in the school gym. “It was super fun,” said junior Zach Otoupal. “There’s a lot of shenanigans — lots of oranges being thrown and apples and all that kind of thing, but it was super fun. I felt like it was a great way to bond for everybody, and it overall strengthened our team.”

Varsity football played their first official game against Soquel High School on Aug. 30, winning 14-7. Junior Beau Musser made a great play down 0-7 in the second quarter. Catching the ball off the kick off, Musser ran the ball across the field for a touchdown. In the third quarter, senior quarterback Scotty Brennan threw an impressive 54-yard pass to senior Leon Sarashki. To put LG ahead, junior Grayson Doslak scored in the fourth quarter. Reflecting on the game, Otoupal stated, “We played really well. We had a little bit of a rushed start, but we came together and got it done.”

LG football played again on Sept. 6 against Liberty High School. The theme for the first home game was black out. LG started the game strong, ending the first quarter 10-0. Quarterback and junior Callum Schweitzer dominated during the match up, continually finding the right players on offense. His favorite play of the game featured a 37-yard pass down the sideline to junior Max Thomas for a touchdown. Schweitzer credits his success to his set pre-game meal of mac and cheese and fried chicken. Schweitzer explained, “I just had it once before a game when I played well.” After Liberty scored their first touchdown in the second quarter, LG responded in their first play while on offense with a 60-yard touchdown run from Doslak. Thomas emphasized, “It just took away all [of Liberty’s] momentum, and led us to victory.” Senior Brayden Smith also had a great game, producing a touchdown for LG off of a rush in the fourth quarter. In the end, LG football won with a score of 38-21.  

Coming off a successful season, LG football hopes to continue the same momentum from last season. In 2023, the team advanced to the CIF State Championship Bowl for the first time in LGHS history, traveling down to play at Pasadena City College. Town members waved their buses off as the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department escorted them out of town. Placed against strong competition, they only narrowly lost 45-42 against Central Valley Christian. Otoupal said, “I’m looking forward to having a great season where we qualify well for CCS, hopefully [win] CCS, and hopefully [get] back to Pasadena [for] the state championship and winning it this year.”