GILROY – Postseason awards were recently handed out to the Tri
County Athletic League’s best players from the 2009 football
season.
GILROY – Postseason awards were recently handed out to the Tri County Athletic League’s best players from the 2009 football season.
The competitive and well-rounded league was represented by four teams in the Central Coast Section playoffs, Gilroy, Palma, Salinas and San Benito.
Three Mustangs were distinguished as First-Team All-League selections and a host of others were honored in other categories.
Wide receiver Jordan Mitchell was one of the TCAL’s 15 offensive first-team honorees, leading the Mustangs in receptions and yards gained, finishing the year with 25 catches for 391 yards and three scores.
The wide out put together four games of 60-plus yards, with his best output coming in a must-win game against North Salinas where he posted three catches for 84 yards and one touchdown.
Mitchell gutted out the remaining four games of the season, playing with a broken finger.
On the other side of the ball, defensive backs Nico Sandoval and Jordan Soares, pulled in first-team recognition.
Sandoval, a senior, corralled two interceptions in 2009 to help solidify a secondary that was tough to beat.
Sandoval also filled in at the receiver position and led GHS with five grabs for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Alisal.
Soares was also named one of three Sophomores of the Year along with Alvarez’ David Perez and Alisal’s Michael Barron.
Senior Jordan Holler, junior Cordero Gonzales and sophomore Alfredo Morales earned second-team honors on offense for the Mustangs.
Although his second-team award specifies him as a running back, Holler played a major role in all three facets of the game for the 2009 Gilroy High football team.
Not only did he line up in the backfield, but he was also the starting safety and was a catalyst on kick off returns.
His two returns of 90-and 85-yards for touchdowns in this year’s Prune Bowl kept the Mustangs afloat in their improbable 35-30 upset of San Benito – a victory that catapulted them into the playoffs.
Holler also caught a touchdown pass and picked off a pass in that game.
A staple throughout the year at middle linebacker, senior Adrian Melendez was selected to the defensive second-team.
Palma, who finished the year atop the league at 6-0 and 8-2-1 overall, edged San Benito with nine first-team recipients to the Balers’ eight.
