A 160-foot-wide patch of grass will be separating two old
friends at Salinas Sports Complex this evening.
The two coaches, Rich Hammond of Gilroy (8-0) and Steve Zenk of
North Salinas (7-1), will be directing a chess match with enormous
stakes.
The Tri-County Athletic League title is on the line for both,
while an undefeated regular season is still possible for Hammond
and his Mustangs. A victory would all but assure Gilroy its second
outright league title in as many years – GHS plays San Benito (3-5)
in the final game of the season next week – while a loss would
likely result a in three-way tie between the Mustangs, North
Salinas and the Palma Chieftains.
A 160-foot-wide patch of grass will be separating two old friends at Salinas Sports Complex this evening.
The two coaches, Rich Hammond of Gilroy (8-0) and Steve Zenk of North Salinas (7-1), will be directing a chess match with enormous stakes.
The Tri-County Athletic League title is on the line for both, while an undefeated regular season is still possible for Hammond and his Mustangs. A victory would all but assure Gilroy its second outright league title in as many years – GHS plays San Benito (3-5) in the final game of the season next week – while a loss would likely result a in three-way tie between the Mustangs, North Salinas and the Palma Chieftains.
Hammond and Zenk know each other’s strengths and weaknesses after serving as assistant coaches together on the powerhouse Hollister squads from earlier this decade. While that time helped the two become friends and form a common ideology on what’s required to run a successful program as head coaches, their styles on how to achieve success offensively couldn’t be much more different.
Gilroy zips passes every which way. North Salinas grinds it out with an occasional shot downfield through play-action.
“I think high school football, you run the ball and play defense,” Zenk said.
Two years ago, when Hammond first told the Vikings’ coach his idea to install a spread, shotgun attack at Gilroy, Zenk’s reaction stayed true to his grinder philosophy.
“I obviously have a lot of respect for him and think he’s an excellent coach,” Zenk said, “(but) I was one of the people that told him, ‘I don’t think that’s going to work for you.’
“And obviously I was wrong.”
Averaging 46 points per contest, Gilroy has played only two games that ended with an opponent within eight points or less. That’s not to say North Salinas lacks the horses to stifle the Mustangs.
“They’re bigger up front and have a tougher [defensive] line,” Hammond said when comparing the Vikings to Palma, which Gilroy beat 34-28 last week at the same site as tonight’s 7:30 p.m. game.
Hammond added that the Mustangs will be facing a defense scheme that is far less predictable than what the Chieftains offered.
“We have to prepare more for the blitz,” he said.
Using a 3-4 front that will try to pressure quarterback Jamie Jensen (2,218 yards, 22 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) from every angle, North Salinas will look for defensive ends Juan Pacheco and Charles Russell to penetrate the gaps, while Michael Benabides and Marcos Martinez (three interceptions each) play the passing lanes.
North Salinas’ Mark Ramos will have the biggest role, though. A hard-hitting safety who is likely to shadow Gilroy’s Dante Fullard (53 catches, 959 yards, 13 touchdowns) depending on where Gilroy lines him up, Ramos is also the Vikings’ biggest threat on offense, averaging just under 8 yards per carry for 985 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
“He’s a leader, but he’s probably the smartest football player we have,” Zenk said.
If Gilroy’s defense can hold up against the run, the Mustangs gain a substantial advantage. Quarterback Mike Ramos has passed for only 584 yards and 9 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Despite having a decent arm strength-wise, he can often be found throwing flat-footed, causing his ball to float. The Mustangs are averaging two interceptions per game, with senior safety Tony Travis leading the way with five.
Zenk is confident his signal-caller is up to the challenge.
“His job is to make sure the offense runs the way it’s supposed to, and he’s done a great job of that for three years now,” Zenk said.
In fact, Mike Ramos hasn’t given away a game yet. If anything, a poor play call in the North Salinas’ 20-14 loss to Palma is to blame for the Vikings’ only defeat.
Tied 14-all in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Vikings were driving down the field by pounding the ball on the ground when a reverse flea flicker was called on second down. Protection on the trick play fell apart and Mike Ramos fumbled while being sacked, giving Palma excellent field advantage to score the game-winning touchdown.
“These guys match up with us better, probably, than Palma does,” Hammond said. “They’re just more unpredictable.”
Gilroy and North Salinas were both expected to contend for a TCAL title this season. Who will win tonight’s game is anybody’s guess.
