GILROY – There were no secrets about what Atascadero’s game plan
was heading into Friday night’s game against Gilroy High.
Head coach Greg Garcia knew. Defensive coordinator Chris Vasseur
had drilled it into his group all week at practice. But when the
Greyhounds began to almost immediately exploit the middle of the
Mustangs’ defense, all the pregame work went by the wayside. The
Greyhounds bulldozed their way to a 48-34 win over the Mustangs,
leaving the boys in blue with their second straight double-digit
loss.
GILROY – There were no secrets about what Atascadero’s game plan was heading into Friday night’s game against Gilroy High.
Head coach Greg Garcia knew. Defensive coordinator Chris Vasseur had drilled it into his group all week at practice. But when the Greyhounds began to almost immediately exploit the middle of the Mustangs’ defense, all the pregame work went by the wayside. The Greyhounds bulldozed their way to a 48-34 win over the Mustangs, leaving the boys in blue with their second straight double-digit loss.
“The guys were well prepared, they knew what to expect,” Garcia said, “It was more of a technique thing and something we are going to have to address this week in practice.”
The two offenses the teams’ showcased could not have been more opposite. The phrase apples and oranges doesn’t even suffice. The Mustangs registered 55 pass plays and sprinkled in four running plays. Conversely the Greyhounds ran the ball a staggering 48 times to just six pass attempts.
Nick Marra had his best outing of the season completing 33-of-53 for 365 yards, five touchdowns, four of which went to senior wide out Tommy Silvas. Marra also had two interceptions.
The contest was tight to start with both teams going for it on fourth down on their opening drives, but neither succeeding.
The Greyhounds went to work on their second possession deep in their own territory and methodically drove down the field. Assisted by a pass interference call Atascadero capped an eight-play, 89-yard drive with a Sterling Bullard 28-yard scamper right through the teeth of the Mustangs’ front line.
On the ensuing kick the Mustangs punched right back getting a spark from its return team and Jordan Holler. Looking up into the night sky, Holler took the kick from the 5-yard line, at the left hash mark, and raced horizontally across the field, darting up the right sideline for a 55-yard return.
“We set up a new return this week in practice,” Holler said. “Every guy picked up his block and that left me one on one with the guy.”
Three plays and less than a minute later, Marra squeezed one in between two defenders connecting with Silvas for the tandems’ first connection of the game.
“I hurt my shoulder a little bit on the first play of the game, but I wanted to get out there – we all did – and fight for a win,” Silvas said. “Our (offensive line) held up a lot better this week which allowed us to throw the ball pretty well.”
Atascadero demonstrated throughout the game that just because they don’t pass the ball, doesn’t mean they can’t score quickly. All it took was five rushing plays up the middle, covering 68 yards, and a Tanner Thompson 14-yard touchdown for the Greyhounds to regain the lead.
Seeing that his spread attack was clicking and the Greyhounds’ defense was on its heels, Garcia pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The decision worked perfectly. Utilizing a hurry-up offense it took the Mustangs a few ticks more than a minute to tie the game at 14-14. Marra hit Bryan Sanchez on a post pattern from 16 yards out, capping a 65-yard drive.
Sanchez had his best statistical night with seven catches and 160 yards but had to be carried off the field midway threw the fourth quarter with an air-soft cast on his right leg.
The Greyhounds scored on four of their five second-half possessions jumping out to a 31-14 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Mustangs worked their way to within one score at 35-28 with seven minutes to play on two Marra to Silvas touchdown passes. Silvas had a game-high 12 catches for 103 yards.
Atascadero added two more rushing scores before the Marra and Silvas teamed up for one last hurrah with four seconds left to go.
Jordan Mitchell had six catches for 77 yards, Thomas Harrington hauled in five balls for 50 yards and Nico Sandoval caught two passes for 26 yards to round out the Mustangs’ stat sheet.
