Air Force commit Matt Long helps Vista del Lago beat Rio Americano for CAL championship
Two years ago, Johnny Koett strolled into his English class at Vista del Lago High School and declared himself not just a student but a player. An athlete, a quarterback.
“He walked in, a scrawny kid with his hat on backward, and said he can sling it,” said Kyle Landes, the English teacher who later became his football coach. “Told him, ‘Come prove it!’”
Koett came through. His buddy Matt Long was his target since forever, and in the past two seasons, they have worked wonders for the Eagles in buckling defenses, including this season as perhaps the most dangerous pass-catch combo in the entire CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
On Friday night, it was Senior Night at the Folsom school, and there was Koett hitting Long for touchdown strikes of 28 and 15 yards and Long adding a 3-yard run to key a 41-15 effort for No. 10 Vista del Lago against No. 13 Rio Americano. Ethan Jones had touchdown runs of 15, 2 and 3 yards behind another strong effort from the offensive line in facing a Rio Americano team that had stormed to an 8-0 start, its best in nearly 30 years.
Vista moved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Capital Athletic League in securing at least a share of the league crown with the aim of winning the program’s first section championship on the distant horizon.
Though it looks magical, the Koett-to-Long combination, Landes doesn’t want that to sound like a layer of gloss on a gritty and genuine product. As a junior in 2022, Koett passed for 2,379 yards and 28 touchdowns while Long had 1,017 yards and 18 TD catches.
Koett now has 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Long has 12 receiving touchdowns and three rushing, and he has five interceptions from his secondary spot on defense, tied for the team lead with another stopper in Camden King, who had his fifth pick on Friday.
“To say it’s magical takes away from the work they’ve put in,” Landes said. “These two have been working on their connection for nearly a decade. They spend hours together. They see things in football the same way. They watch film. They spearhead this offense and help develop guys around them.”
Long has great hands and can be graceful in his downfield stride, but this is also a guy who relishes the chance to bowl someone over to get to the end zone. The powerfully built 5-foot-11, 190-pound Long has committed to the Air Force Academy.
“Matt’s a special breed,” Landes said. “He’s Matt Long because he’s Matt Long. You would not know who he is on campus. He’s humble and unassuming.”
Koett is also worth a scholarship look, Landes said. He is 6-1 and 190 pounds, and he’s proven that he can sling it.
“Those overlooking him are missing out, and he’s still developing,” Landes said.
Landes took over the head coaching duties of the Eagles from Mike Struebing, who produced six playoff teams in his seven seasons as the head man. But Struebing didn’t go far. He is the program’s strength and conditioning coach, and players and coaches say the weight room has reaped big benefits.
“The weight room gave us that third tier to this program,” Landes said. “We lift differently. We speed train. It’s really helped us. I loved the effort tonight. I love that this group is not content.”
The offensive line has also been paramount in the team’s surge. Austin Zugnoni is the center flanked by guards Dillon Kyle and Joseph Musk, and tackles Jake Tate, Brandon Nazworth and Andrew Powers. Key reserves include Luke Bridge and Anthony Goggliano.
Zugnoni is in his second year in football, and he’s flourished. The whole team has, anchored by a kid who can sling it and another who can catch it.
Rio Americano coach Reid Sanders told his team they got “smoked” but that their goals are still within reach. That includes an outside shot at tying for the league championship, making the playoffs and making a run at a section championship.
This story was originally published October 14, 2023 at 12:28 AM.