GILROY—“We’re on a mission this year,” Gilroy coach Brian Boyd said while looking out at the field full of players practicing during spring football session. “We’ve headed in the right direction, we’re going up and that’s the plan. We just want to get to the playoffs. We don’t care what our record is, we just want to get to the playoffs.”
The Mustangs went 5-5 last season, falling just short of a Central Coast Section playoff berth, a goal they haven’t achieved since 2009—and Boyd is determined not to let history repeat itself. Though his team is losing offensive weapons like his son Brandon—the explosive running back who amassed 2,238 yards last season—standout wide receiver Bubba Lara, middle linebacker Julian Carabajal, who was second in the Monterey Bay League in tackles and O-lineman Isaiah Madalora, who racked up eight sacks last season, Boyd is still confident in the ones he has returning.
The MBL Sophomore of the Year, David Munoz, will be back to lead the offense at quarterback. The quiet leader has been asked to take a more vocal role and he’s stepping up the challenge. Boyd said Munoz has put in plenty of time in the weight room this offseason to become bigger, faster and stronger and is not relying on his accolades to carry him this season.
“As the quarterback, I’ve got to lead it,” Munoz said. “I’ve got to bring the team together so we can do better. …I just have to stay focused.”
The Mustangs will look to maintain their spread offense and keep it balanced on the ground and in the air similar to last season. Though they are sans one standout running back, they are returning his understudy, David Montes, in addition to moving Deangelo Kamber from left tackle to RB.
“(Kamber) thinned down and ran track,” Boyd said. “Him and David are probably going to share time. Our thoughts are if we can get 1,000 yards out with those two as a combination, we’re going to be fine. …We don’t expect these guys to run away from people, but to get us first downs, get us some yards and keep teams off guard a little bit.”
Darius Alexander-Jones will transition from guard to center, providing much needed senior leadership in the middle. Rene Fregoso (tackle/guard) will return as will guard Adrian Alba and Elijah Floyd—who sat out most of last season due to the CCS transfer rule. The Mustangs have already hired Alfredo Morales, a GHS alum, to help coach the O-line.
Boyd is confident the absence of Carabajal won’t be felt too hard. They will return Carabajal’s counterpart, Noe Garcia, and will see the return of defensive powerhouse Devin Nguyen, who was sidelined last season with a back injury. The soon-to-be senior captain was due to return to action the first week of June and is chomping at the bit to help his team anyway he can.
“(I’m excited about) just getting back on the field and leading this team—trying to get them back into the playoffs,” Nguyen said. “The hardest thing in the world last year was just sitting on sidelines, watching them play their hearts out every game and only going 5-5. …There’s a lot pressure especially with it being my last year. My whole career, I haven’t been on a team with a winning record yet, so I’m trying to change that this year.”
It’s not just the veterans who have the Mustangs excited for the 2014 season. Boyd said the numbers on the practice field have reached the mid-70s—a welcome change from the scarce turnout last season. Gilroy has its eyes on rookies like Mark Garcia—the 195 lb. freshman wrestler—who it hopes will add size and strength at the linebacker position. The Mustangs are also eyeing Angel Carabajal—Julian’s brother—a soon-to-be sophomore who will add speed to the squad.
For the Mustangs, there’s strength in numbers. And as those numbers continue to rise, the future looks brighter and brighter for Gilroy.
“We’re seeing some new faces—a lot of new faces—that I don’t know if they’ve ever even played football before,” Boyd said. “So we’re excited about that and there’s kids wanting to get involved. They’re seeing the good things happening here at Gilroy.”
