Miles away from Garcia-Elder Sports Complex Friday night, the
thunderclap of fireworks could be heard in the far reaches of
Gilroy. The sky was lit like a Christmas tree as fireworks competed
with a full moon for attention.
Considering Friday’s 35-14 victory over Palma was such a monumental win in the history of Gilroy High football, this week’s Backup Punter column will focus specifically on the Mustangs.
Miles away from Garcia-Elder Sports Complex Friday night, the thunderclap of fireworks could be heard in the far reaches of Gilroy. The sky was lit like a Christmas tree as fireworks competed with a full moon for attention.
The sights and sounds were a spectacle befitting Homecoming. They also could have been a signal of a new era in Tri-County Athletic League football.
Were those fireworks or was that the sound of someone popping bagpipes?
Gilroy overcame the terrors of the TCAL, the Palma Chieftains, 35-14 in a game that showcased the Mustangs at their zenith.
Gilroy’s offense was a multi-dimensional monster, efficiently eating up chunks of yards on the ground (16 carries, 123 yards) and through the air (18 completions for 247 yards). The Mustangs’ defense played the part of wild horses, running around with reckless abandon (five sacks, double-digit tackles for loss) and doing almost everything except dragging opponents away from the field.
It was only the second time Gilroy has ever beaten Palma in football, the first coming three seasons ago in 2004. That 29-22 win fell short of giving GHS a share of a league title though, when the Mustangs lost two weeks later to Salinas 32-8. The TCAL title, and a Monterey Bay League championship before the TCAL was formed, has eluded Gilroy every year since 1985. The 1985 title was shared while the last outright championship came in 1981.
Now, the crown, fitted for just one team, is within reach.
Two games remain on the schedule: North Salinas at home on Friday and the Prune Bowl at Hollister on Nov. 9. A win in either game will allow Gilroy to accomplish its primary goal. After that, a Central Coast Section title could become the new charge.
While the buildup to last week’s game may have come close to hyperbole – Gilroy vs. Palma is biggest game ever!!! – a short history lesson will show just how unique the win was for the Mustangs.
Palma has gone 76-16-2 in the last eight years. Of those 16 defeats, four of them came in CCS. Four other losses came in preseason games against De La Salle, which has been the best high school football program in the state over the last decade (ever?). Gilroy has now given the Chieftains two of their remaining regular season defeats over eight years.
Even more incredible, Palma has gone 42-6-1 in league play during these eight years, and no conference foe had beaten them by more than 11 during that span.
Until, of course, Gilroy tentatively turned Palma’s hopes of a TCAL title into a bagpipe-dream.
Random News, Notes and Observations:
n For the second-straight week Gilroy ran a trick play on the first down from scrimmage. Running a reverse similar to the one against Alisal two weeks ago, this time receiver Dante Fullard was given the ball sprinting to the right side of the field. He then shoveled the ball back to quarterback Jamie Jensen, who gathered himself and hit Danny Contreras on a 37-yard rainbow. That was just the first of eight hook-ups between Jensen and Contreras.
– A 3 minute, 58 second drive in the third quarter showcased a pitch and catch session between Jensen and his receivers. Refusing to be beat deep, Palma gave up short routes on the outside allowing Fullard and Contreras to take turns catching comebacks. Contreras caught three balls while Fullard caught four – the final being a nine-yard slant route for a touchdown.
– GHS wide receivers coach Will Lawrence could be heard telling several players to focus on the second half instead of the thunderous light show going on behind the press box as the third quarter drew near.
“What, you’ve never seen fireworks before?” he asked.
– The fireworks – put on by the GHS Associated Student Body for a cost of $1,500 – were pretty cool and lasted much longer than expected.
– The Homecoming dance started directly after the game, giving students just 90 minutes to get down on the floor. Let’s hope the football players had enough time to shower before attending.
Offensive Play of the Game
Running a “mini curl” where he took three hard steps and then came back to the quarterback, receiver Danny Contreras caught the ball and turned on the burners by breaking loose to the outside, beating almost everyone down the field before cutting back for a 70-yard touchdown to give Gilroy a 28-7 lead. Running back Travis Reyes helped make a couple key blocks ahead of the play.
Defensive Play of the Game
Linebackers Kevin Stewart, Michael Cano and Brandon Elam swarmed Palma quarterback David Fales to force a fumble recovered by defensive end Stephen Guitterez. The play gave Gilroy the ball on Palma’s 39-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Travis Reyes five plays later, putting Gilroy up 14-7.
Special Teams Play of the Game
Sean Hale recovered an onside kick by Palma with 4:41 left in the game. He then rushed for 36 yards on four carries and caught a shovel pass for four yards to help set up the final score of Gilroy’s 35-14 win.
Quote of the Game
“I’m trying not to cry because I’m an emotional guy. I love you guys.”
– GHS Coach Rich Hammond to his team after beating Palma 35-14.
Players of the Game
Danny Contreras – WR
Contreras isn’t just a receiver, he’s an all-around football player. He returned kicks, made tackles on special teams (including one vicious shot on the GHS sideline) and caught eight passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Stephen Guitterez – DE
Guitterez had two sacks and a fumble recovery, playing out of his mind after switching positions from fullback to defensive lineman earlier in the year.
Kevin Stewart – LB
Stewart was all over the field on Friday, making three tackles for loss and also forcing a fumble on a sack.
