Local football teams brace for their first taste of real
action
Tonight marks “Zero Week” and the return to action for local high school football teams. After a summer of hard work and a few scrimmages to shake off the rust, the varsity squads that will vie for the Tri-County Athletic League title take on preseason opponents at home and away to the delight of football fans in the area.
Here’s a preview of those games, and a rundown of what local coaches expect to see from their squads in Game 1 action:
GILROY AT BURLINGAME
When Gilroy takes the field at Burlingame tonight at 7pm, the Mustangs will be relieved not to have to face the Panthers’ 2004 CCS First Team quarterback Drew Schiller.
“He graduated, and we’re thankful for that,” said Gilroy coach Darren Yafai.
But even without Schiller, Gilroy, which escaped with a 23-21 win against the eventual 11-2 CCS Division III champs in the opener last year, will have their hands full with Burlingame.
The Panthers return several running backs, including 2004 all-Peninsula Bay league running back Gabe Weisbarth, so Yafai is expecting a team that knows how to run the ball. Much of Gilroy’s success could rely on how well the defense is able to read Burlingame’s multi-option offense.
“I think that’s going to be a big challenge to us,” Yafai said. “And (their) wing-T offense is very deceptive offense.”
As for Gilroy’s own offensive plan, Yafai plans on starting senior Nick Tovar over Chris Velasco at quarterback.
“We feel right up to now, Nick has the edge in the passing game,” Yafai said.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Velasco won’t see time.
“We like both of them,” Yafai said. “We’re not afraid to use either one.”
The Mustangs has a few injuries that could affect them. Starting linebacker Chris Hernandez is still out indefinitely with a knee injury and strong guard Jonathan Bobadilla will be out for a couple more weeks. However, starting cornerback Jay Raven will play after sitting out last week’s scrimmage.
Overall, Yafai expects a well-coached, well-prepared Burlingame squad.
“They’re well-balanced,” he said. “They’ve got a great passing attack and a good running attack.”
SILVER CREEK AT LIVE OAK
Live Oak’s season opener tonight offers the Acorns a taste of the 2006 competition.
The Morgan Hill school moves from the Tri-County Athletic League to the Blossom Valley Athletic League next year, so the matchup with Silver Creek, which finished 5-5 overall and 3-4 (fifth place) in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton division last season, is a preview of things to come.
First-year Acorns head coach Rick Booth scouted the Raiders at their scrimmage against Andrew Hill and Oak Grove last weekend.
“They’re a typical Blossom Valley ‘A’ League team – they’re big and strong and fast,” Booth said. “We’ll have to play near perfect to beat them.”
V. christian AT sbhs
The Haybalers begin the 2005 campaign with what could be the toughest game on the team’s entire schedule. Valley Christian’s recent early-season success against San Benito has been a trend that head coach Chris Cameron and his staff are hoping doesn’t make an appearance this year.
Unfortunately for the ‘Balers, the Warriors’ roster is as deep as ever.
Quarterback Dante Perez led the Warriors to the Open Division title last season and he’s back under center for another season with Valley Christian this year.
Standout running back Dominique Hunsucker, widely considered to be one of the Central Coast Section’s top backs, suffered an injury early last season that saw him miss around half of the team’s games but is back at full strength for tonight’s opener.
And then there’s Matt Singletary, son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, at defensive end. Singletary’s presence on the field is something the Haybalers will have to pay close attention to tonight as the 6-3, 230 pounder will no doubt play a big role in the Warriors’ attempts to disrupt the San Benito offense.
WEST VALLEY AT GAVILAN
The Gavilan Rams get to play the very first football game under the lights at the new Garcia-Elder Sports Complex at Gilroy High. Head coach John Lango wants his young team to understand that with that honor comes a sense of urgency.
“It’s a really, really great facility,” Lango said Thursday, discussing Saturday’s season opener against West Valley at 7pm.
The coach believes the most important thing his team must do against a typically huge Vikings team is to get used to the faster pace of junior college, quickly.
“We’re pretty young, and we’ve got young guys in key positions,” Lango said. “For them to rise to the level of play, we need to make sure they play with a sense of urgency. We struggled in our scrimmage at Merced, because (for high school kids) going up a level, the game is so much faster.
“What we’re looking at in the first game is to make sure kids are playing at a high level of intensity from the opening whistle.”
While most of Gavilan’s starting lineup is set, Lango will use the first test for his Rams to assess players at a few key positions, most notably at the strong safety spot. Freshman Matt Sonada will get the start against West Valley, but Danny Melendez will see plenty of action. Melendez, a 28-year-old Gilroy High product, returns to the gridiron after a long hiatus.
The Rams (6-5 in 2004) enter the season with a No. 18 ranking in the California Community College Football Coaches Association preseason poll for Northern California colleges. West Valley (3-7 in 2004) is unranked.
Game 1 matchups
Gilroy (8-4) at Burlingame (11-2)
TCAL League PAL-BAY
Recent matchups
2004: Gilroy 23, Burlingame 21
Silver Creek (5-5) at Live Oak (8-3)
BVAL-Mt. H League TCAL
Recent matchups
None
W. Valley (3-7) at Gavilan (6-4)
Golden Gate Conf. Coast
Recent matchups
2004: Gavilan 21, West Valley 3
