It might not be complete consolation, but Gilroy High football
coach Rich Hammond can take comfort in the fact that he’s the only
Mustang who would qualify for being placed on the team’s injury
report.
GILROY – It might not be complete consolation, but Gilroy High football coach Rich Hammond can take comfort in the fact that he’s the only Mustang who would qualify for being placed on the team’s injury report.
Tearing ligaments in a knee while inner-tubing a couple weeks ago, Hammond has a brace that has his leg immobilized so it’s as stiff as a board. Still, the third-year coach isn’t about to let that stop him from leading his squad onto the field at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex tonight at 7:30 p.m., when the Mustangs host Archbishop Mitty in the season opener.
“It’s not going to bother me. I’ve had worse things happen to me,” Hammond said in reference to his playing days at San Benito High School and at the collegiate level.
While Gilroy’s coach may be limited in movement, the Mustangs’ offense shouldn’t have too much trouble getting up and down the field.
Gilroy’s passing attack is expected to return to its high-flying ways and post four or five scores.
Meanwhile, Mitty has installed a similar spread formation attack. During last week’s 21-19 loss to Las Lomas, in which the Monarchs came within a two-point conversion of possibly sending the game to overtime, Mitty showed a greater ability to move the chains as the game progressed. The team scored 12 unanswered points after halftime.
“I think they’re a good football team, good athletes,” Hammond said. “They control the ball very well.”
Receiver Mitch Haniger will be the main target of Mitty quarterback Ryan Roderick, while DJ Bush will be a threat on the ground after breaking off a 46-yard touchdown run against Las Lomas.
The Mustangs will once again have a numbers advantage over Mitty, similar to the way Gilroy did against most opponents last season, as the Monarchs have at least six players who will be playing nearly every down on both sides of the ball. Gilroy splits its units and rarely has a player go both ways, which should help the Mustangs keep their energy level high as they try to adjust to the speed of the game in their first contest.
In contrast, Mitty (0-1) knows this is a game it needs to win before starting up play in the always competitive West Catholic Athletic League.
“They’re a WCAL team, there’s not a sorry team in the bunch,” Hammond said. “If we don’t bring our ‘A’ game and they do, we’ll lose. If we bring our ‘A’ game, we should beat them.”
With Gilroy beginning its quest to go undefeated, now is certainly not the time to be lacking motivation.
