Gilroy
Christopher coach Tim Pierleoni’s preparation against Live Oak’s Trevor Bearden was simple: He was going to pray and pray hard.
Pierleoni’s prayers were answered in the form of an outstanding defensive effort from his Cougars, leading them to a 28-8 win over Live Oak on Sept. 13. Christopher held the explosive Bearden to just 30 yards on 15 carries — a dramatic difference to the almost 500 he picked up against Gilroy in Week 1.
Though the Cougars are confident following the win over LOHS, they are prepared for an even tougher task this week when they take on Carmel at 7:30 p.m. tonight at home.
“They understand the challenge this week,” Pierleoni said. “They already knew we were going to play a tough game against Carmel. It’s been on their minds since we walked off that field last week. We’re humbly confident that we’ll do well. We’re not a group to talk much about that. We’re going to really prepare hard and work real hard in practice and hopefully, like I said, have a chance to win a football game that’s going to be real tough to win.”
Senior Rayshon Mills led the Cougars (2-0) offensively, racking up 199 yards on 22 carries and scoring four touchdowns in the game. Mills’ explosive game made him third in the Monterey Bay League in rushing with 287 yards over two weeks. Quarterback Sterling Montgomery is fourth in passing, throwing for 276 yards with two touchdowns in this young season.
“I like to stay as balanced as possible, I really do,” Pierleoni said. “I’d like for us to be able to make some more plays. I thought we were just inches away from making some really good plays — a couple balls off of guy’s hands and things like that. Offensively, I’d like to see a little more consistency. I think at times we can be a little inconsistent. I’d like for us to play a little bit better and make some of those plays I know we can make.”
Things will not get any easier for the Cougars this week as they take
on Carmel (2-0). Carmel stomped all over North Salinas in a 57-35 win last week and are led offensively by quarterback Connor Marden who has gone 31 for 43 for 432, three touchdowns and an interception through two games. Marden also has 19 carries for 73 yards. The Padres are led on the ground by Holden Smith, who has 223 yards on 35 carries with three touchdowns so far this season.
“We’re going to have to defend an all-around team, not just a passing team,” Pierleoni said. “Their kid (Smith) can run the football and their quarterback runs with the football pretty well. We’re trying the best we can to figure out a real good team with some real good players. We’re going to try to keep ourselves in a position to make it a close game and be able to have a chance.”
The bad news for Marden, Smith and the Padres’ O-line is that they will be up against Christopher’s Jacob Moen who is second in the league in tackles with 20 so far this year. The defense will need to continue to stand on its head, but Pierleoni said his team welcome the challenge.
“They’re a very good team, perennial powerhouse — they win CCS year after year after year after year,” Pierleoni said. “They’re a very, very, very good football program and that’s one of the reasons why we wanted to play them. We were honored that they chose to play us, that they wanted to play us. …We want to play really good football teams like that — it’s great for Christopher High School football.”
We were honored that they chose to play us, that they wanted to play us. …We want to play really good football teams like that — it’s great for Christopher High School football.”
Carmel
Quarterback Connor Marden — 31 for 43 for 432 yards, three touchdowns and interception; 19 carries for 73 yards through two games.
Christopher
Linebacker Jacob Moen — 20 tackles (third best in the Monterey Bay League) through two games.
