The old adage goes,
”
In order to beat the best, you have to play the best.
”
Gilroy certainly didn’t play the best in a 47-0 victory over
Alvarez on Friday, but the team did put up one of its best
performances in years.
Gilroy – The old adage goes, “In order to beat the best, you have to play the best.”
Gilroy certainly didn’t play the best in a 47-0 victory over Alvarez on Friday, but the team did put up one of its best performances in years. The Mustangs have not outscored an opponent by more points since a 62-14 victory over Monterey on Oct. 26, 2001.
It would be easy to say that playing Alvarez was the only reason for the lopsided win, but there is another possibility that merits consideration: Gilroy has some of the best teams in the section scheduled on either side of its most recent game.
Taking on sectional powers Oak Grove and Serra earlier in the year – while both losses – surely provided a learning curve for the Mustangs. And even though Gilroy did take a more reserved approach in the second half Friday – scoring only one touchdown after 40 first-half points – the team was still attempting to get ready for upcoming opponent Pacific Grove. PG is undefeated to start the season and has won the Mission Trail Athletic League every year since 2003.
“It’s kind of a tough balancing act when you play someone like (Alvarez), because we have a 5-0 team this week,” GHS coach Rich Hammond said. “When you’re gonna play somebody really good next week, you can’t afford to not play (hard all game the week before).”
Those lessons will need to be applied further into the future as the toughest part of league play is the final three weeks of the season (Palma, N. Salinas, at San Benito).
While most first-string players didn’t see much time after the first half, several important things happened that could affect future games.
1.) Find a backup quarterback – Dante Fullard looked excellent in his time at quarterback in the second half. While also the starting X-Receiver (four catches for 97 yards in the first half), Fullard showed pocket presence by completing 4 of 5 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 25 yards while scrambling.
2.) Find out if the new defense works – Switching from a 3-4 base defense to a nickel package, the defense proved to be stout against the run (35 carries for 51 yards allowed), while also picking off two passes (Lukas Fortino, Dennis Rathi).
“It worked a lot better once we got used to it,” Rathi said.
3.) Boost team Morale – Nothing picks players up like a big win. Coaches mentioned it’s nice to see kids who put in the time each day at practice get some results on game day. In the second half, players could be heard chanting on teammate Omar Bibi who had six carries for 30 yards.
“I don’t think he’s ever played organized sports before,” Hammond said, “so, I think that was a pretty cool deal for him.”
Quote of the Game
Nah, no one said anything from the other team. They don’t give me crap. Just at practice, once in a while. Whatever.
-GHS linebacker Lukas Fortino, after a 47-0 win over Alvarez, talks about his pink mouthpiece and the flak he takes from teammates.
Alvarez at Gilroy
Team 1 2 3 4 F
ALV 0 0 0 0 0
GIL 14 26 0 7 47
SCORING
First Quarter
Gil – Rush, Travis Reyes, 58-yard score (PAT good), 7-0, Gil
Gil – Catch, Danny Contreras, 15-yard score (PAT good), 14-0, Gil
SCORING
Second Quarter
Gil – Rush, Travis Reyes, 2-yard score (PAT good), 21-0, Gil
Gil – Rush, Travis Reyes, 2-yard score (PAT no good), 27-0, Gil
Gil – Catch, Danny Contreras, 36-yard score (PAT no good), 33-0, Gil
Gil – Catch, Dante Fullard, 37-yard score (PAT good), 40-0, Gil
Fourth Quarter
Gil – Catch, Sean Hale, 52-yard score (PAT good), 47-0, Gil
STATS
Gil Passing
Jamie Jensen – 12 of 18, 224 yards, 3 TDs, 2 Int
Dante Fullard – 4 of 5, 64 yards, 1 TD
Gil Rushing
Travis Reyes – 5 rushes, 65 yards, 3 TDs
Danny Contreras – 1 rush, 7 yards
Jamie Jensen – 1 rush, -6 yards
Sean Hale – 2 rushes, 2 yards
Dante Fullard – 2 rushes, 25 yards
Octavio Duran – 1 rush, 3 yards
Omar Bibi – 6 rush, 30 yards
Ryan Costa – 1 rush, 5 yards
Roger Martinez – 1 rush, 3 yards
Gil Receiving
Travis Reyes – 1 catch, 6 yards
Danny Contreras – 3 catches, 53 yards, 2 TDs
Sean Hale – 2 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
Dante Fullard – 4 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD
Lelan Gettys – 2 catches, 21 yards
Mario Cabrera – 2 catches, 39 yards
Ryan Costa – 1 catch, 8 yards
Juan Delgado – 1 catch, -4 yards
Gil Kicking
Kevin Grove – 0 of 1 (33), 4-6 XP
Play of the Game
The entire first half. Leading 40-0 at intermission, the Mustangs dominated every aspect of the game, and almost every play of the opening half.
Player of the Game
The Offensive Line
Quarterback Jamie Jensen hit the turf just once on a rollout in the first half and the team racked up 288 yards passing and 134 yards rushing for the game. The Mustangs had only three negative plays in terms of yardage, with one coming when Jensen kneeled to mercifully end the first half.
Drive of the Game
7 plays, 55 yards (Three minutes)
Taking over at their own 45-yard line, the Mustangs overcame a holding penalty and completed four of five passes, culminating in a 15-yard Danny Contreras touchdown reception. It was the longest scoring drive of the game for Gilroy.
Stat of the Game
Gilroy had its best defensive performance of the year by shutting down the Alvarez ground game and forcing five turnovers. The Eagles carried the ball 35 times for a paltry 51 yards.
Offensive Play of the Game
Travis Reyes took a run to the right side of the line 58 yards for the first score of the game on the second play from scrimmage.
Defensive Play of the Game
Linebacker Lukas Fortino fought with an Alvarez receiver, and several GHS defenders, to intercept a bobbled pass with 2:45 left in the first quarter. The play set up the drive of the game and stopped Alvarez from taking advantage of great field position after a GHS fumble.
Special Teams Play of the game
Kicker Kevin Grove had to kickoffs for touchbacks. One was a sidewinder that curled just inside the front right pylon of the end zone.
Hit of the Game
Safety Tony Travis delivered a devastating blow to an Alvarez receiver on third-and-15 with 7:07 left in the third quarter. The shot forced an Eagles punt.
