Los Gatos and Archbishop Riordan met last season in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs, a game Los Gatos won by two touchdowns.

This year was supposed to be different. Riordan had caught fire after a 2-4 start to its 2024 season, winning five consecutive games. Plus, the Crusaders would host the Wildcats at home in San Francisco this time.

But sometimes, things don’t change in an expected fashion. Riordan, which put up 41 points in its opening-round win over Soquel, was held down just enough by Los Gatos’ defense. And when a late fumble opened the door, the Cats pounced.

Senior quarterback Scotty Brennan found senior tight end Owen Panu for a 17-yard touchdown pass over the middle, and Los Gatos fended off a last-second Hail Mary to seal a 35-28 win.

“Amazing,” Panu said. “Never had a better feeling in my life.”

Los Gatos (10-2) nearly scored on its previous possession, but Brennan’s attempted pass to Blake Thomas was broken up by Chris Lawson. But the Cats got another chance when Riordan fumbled three plays later, setting Los Gatos up with a prime opportunity to win the game.

The Wildcats cashed in.

“We practice it. We practice it every day. It’s a mindset on our defense that we want to swarm the football and create opportunities,” Los Gatos coach Mark Krail said. “It’s been two weeks in a row. Going back to last week, I don’t think anybody outside of our town gave us a chance, and I know nobody outside of our town gave us a chance today. I couldn’t be more proud. We got another week together, and that’s such a blessing with these guys.”

Both teams came out of the gates scoring quickly. Riordan (7-5) struck on its first drive with a 2-yard TD run by Jeremiah Jones to cap a drive that took just 1:50 off the clock.

Los Gatos countered with a 19-yard TD pass to Panu, but Riordan retook the lead with a 7-yard pass from Mike Mitchell Jr. to Judge Nash.

That capped the scoring in the first quarter, and as it turned out, the first half. But Los Gatos didn’t take long to strike back in the second half.

A 44-yard kickoff return by Beau Musser set the Wildcats up at Riordan’s 46-yard line, and Grayson Doslak capitalized five plays later on a 2-yard TD run.

Riordan responded with a 5-yard run by Adonyae Brown, stretching its lead to 21-13. Then Brennan made the throw of the game, a perfectly placed deep shot to Musser for a 73-yard TD.

The Crusaders’ talent was on display one play later. On the next snap from scrimmage, Brown ran up the middle on first down, going 80 yards untouched for a score.

But Los Gatos had another punch to throw. Grayson Doslak ran in a 25-yard delayed handoff, bringing the score to 28-26. On the two-point conversion, Brennan found Panu in the back of the end zone, tying the game.

The action was far from over. Riordan drove the ball to its 45-yard line, then opted to attempt a fourth-and-5 in minus territory. Mitchell’s pass was completed a yard short of the sticks, and Los Gatos took over on downs with 6:09 to go.

For Riordan, the loss brings an end to a season of great promise. The Crusaders looked to have turned a corner in the final weeks of the season, knocking off West Catholic Athletic League heavyweights Serra and St. Francis in back to back weeks.

Los Gatos’ season will continue in the CCS Division I championship game against St. Francis on Friday at San Jose City College.

— Christian Babcock

McClymonds wins another Silver Bowl

Michael Peters’ demeanor was not one of joy or celebration after his dynastic McClymonds team captured its 15th Oakland Section championship in a row on Saturday afternoon at Castlemont.

In the postgame huddle, the longtime Warriors coach wanted his team to focus on the litany of mistakes and penalties the Oakland powerhouse had committed in its 32-7 victory against an overmatched Oakland High team.

“No matter who we see, we still have to play up to our standard,” Peters said. “We can’t be up and down like this.”

For McClymonds, winning a fifth state championship, not another inevitable section crown, is the team’s ultimate goal. Peters wanted his team to regain the momentum it had before a fight with Fremont-Oakland on Oct. 11 resulted in a forfeit and mass suspensions.

Even with players out, Mack hadn’t been tested by league competition in weeks. But early on, it appeared as if Oakland would give the Warriors their first competitive game against an Oakland Athletic League rival in years.

Ymer Belvine forced the first of two McClymonds fumbles on back-to-back possessions to keep the game scoreless midway through the first quarter.

But then the Warriors ran off 20 straight points via a John “Sharky” Tamale 12-yard touchdown run, and touchdown receptions by Ugene Jackson and Rahsjon Duncan. Dominic Davis ran for 73 yards to lead McClymonds in rushing, too.

Throwing both touchdowns, and later running for a one-yard score, was junior quarterback Berell Staples, the transfer from Lincoln-Stockton who was playing in his first Silver Bowl.

“This win feels good, and it feels like a lot of the work we’ve put in this season is paying off,” Staples said.

Oakland gave its fans something to cheer about right before halftime when Belvine connected with Isaiah Carter Noriega for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Oakland finished its season 8-4, while McClymonds improved to 8-4 and will have two weeks off between the Silver Bowl and its NorCal game.

— Joseph Dycus