Last December, a dream season met an abrupt end when the Palo Alto Viking varsity football team lost to Los Gatos 27-6 in the Central Coast Section championship game.

Excluding the two losses to the Wildcats, the Vikings outscored their opponents by an average of 17.5 points per game. In those two losses, the Vikings were outscored 90-34; giving up a season high 63 points to the Wildcats in a mid-November regular season meltdown, over 50 points more than their season average.

The Vikings were 10-2 last year, which gave them a share of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League title. The team averaged close to 29 points per game coming into their rematch with Los Gatos in the CCS finals. A smothering Wildcat defense held the potent Viking offense to just six points while the offense turned three Palo Alto turnovers into 21 Wildcat points. When the whistle blew, the Vikings could only watch as the Wildcats celebrated their 21 point victory.

"They were a great team last year and they capitalized on our errors," said Vikings head coach Earl Hansen. "If we want to beat them this year, we have to limit our mistakes."

This year’s Vikings are one year older, and even with 14 returning starters playing 21 out of the 22 starting positions the Vikings once again find themselves facing an uphill road to the title. The Vikings face a grueling start to their schedule with their first four games on the road. After opening the regular season against Carlmont, the Vikings face Burlingame who beat Palo Alto each of the last two years. After a tough match-up with Oak Grove, the road trip culminates with a Sept. 29 visit to Los Gatos for a long-awaited rematch.

"We know we have to go through Gatos if we want to win it all," said senior quarterback Nick Goodspeed. "When you beat them, you know you’re a contender."

The Wildcats are still the odds-on favorite to win the De Anza division, ranked the second toughest team in all of CCS, but the Vikings bring an experienced and determined lineup. Following the crucial game against the Wildcats, Palo Alto plays their first home game on Oct. 6 against Wilcox and then on Oct. 27, cross-town rival Gunn comes to Paly hoping not to repeat last year’s 42-7 blowout.

Every starter of the Viking offensive and defensive lines is returning with the exception of Tim Currie. The five seniors that start of the line average 6 feet 2 inches and 245 pounds and are led by guard and tackle Fred Koloto (6’4" 285 lbs) who plays both offense and defensive line. According to Hansen, Koloto has already received full-ride scholarship offers from Nebraska, BYU, San Jose St. and has even drawn the attention of college football powerhouse USC. Because of an injury to junior John Via "JV" Lutui, the Viking could use "more depth" according to senior tackle Will Elmore (6’4" 270 lbs), who also plays both sides of the ball.

The Vikings backfield includes senior Will Frazier and junior Sione Mataele who at 260 lbs complements the agility and quickness of Frazier. Despite losing tight end Cooper Miller to UC Berkeley, the Vikings expect senior Buddy Benaderet (6’3" 225 lbs) to be one of the top receivers in the league as well as his normal duties as a starting defensive end.

"Buddy won’t surprise us, but he sure will surprise some opponents this year," Hansen said.

Running the offense will be Goodspeed who in his second year as the starter has begun drawing comparisons to former Paly all-league quarterback and the projected starter at Cornell University this year, Nathan Ford.

"I’ll always love Nathan, but Nick could be right up there with him or better," Hansen said.

Starting in the summer, the Vikings began off-season workouts and practices and according to Hansen, the chemistry is outstanding and the added experience gives them a substantial advantage. The players often play video games or watch movies in the locker room in-between double-days, which consist of two practices per day. With such an experienced and united team, the Vikings do not have nor do they need an obvious team captain. According to Coach Hansen, players like Koloto, Elmore, Frazier and defensive lineman John Hall figure to take charge when needed.

The Vikings realize that Los Gatos will not be their only competition with teams like Wilcox and Milpitas always in the hunt for the De Anza title, but when it comes to who the players want to beat, it’s unanimous.

"Just beat Gatos," said senior defensive back and wide receiver Dennis Pruzan. "We want revenge."

Not one of the Vikings have ever beaten Los Gatos in football on varsity so a victory early in the season might give Palo Alto the momentum they need come playoff time.

In order to achieve their goals, the Vikings must work hard, but perhaps more importantly, they must try to survive a brutal and grueling season while avoiding a plague of injuries that could easily end any team’s championship hopes.

"We have to stay healthy," Hall said.

It is easier said than done in a full contact sport where a major factor in the game is hitting each other, but if the Vikings avoid injuries and play their best game, they might just win it all.

"We’ve got the talent, the determination, and the desire," Hansen said. "We just need to put it all together when it counts."

The Vikings will try and do just that when the regular season begins on Sept. 8.