It doesn’t take much to find motivating factors entering the
Gilroy Mustangs’ 2011 football season.
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Gilroy Mustangs
Coach: Steven Lo (first year)
League: Tri County
2010 record: 2-8, 0-6 (seventh)
It doesn’t take much to find motivating factors entering the Gilroy Mustangs’ 2011 football season.
An unstoppable downward spiral swept through the program in 2010, leaving in its path of destruction a disappointing 2-8 record, including a humbling 0-6 mark in the Tri-County Athletic League. A sense of woe-is-us on the sideline proved just as damaging, as injuries and egos spoiled a once promising composition.
Change was inevitable heading into the offseason, and it started with the hiring of coach Steven Lo, who spent the previous two seasons as an assistant with the Mustangs.
“Whenever they don’t take care of business, we kind of remind them of (last season),” Lo said following his team’s scrimmage against San Benito, Christopher and King’s Academy last Friday.
“The first things I said were, ‘We have to change the way we work, change our attitudes, the way we approach things.’
“We aren’t there yet, but we are going in the right direction to make something happen.”
This season is shaping up to be one of similarities and differences, and there is a refreshing mix of old and new creating a buzz within the program.
To set the proper course, Lo brought aboard seven new assistant coaches — Jeff Finnell, Zach Hewett, Bart Nielsen, Max Nazabal, Korey Grey, Fernando Sanchez and Will Lawrence.
“We coach with the same intensity we expect from our players,” Lo said.
Quarterback Niko Fortino returns for his second season in the shotgun. And what has become a GHS staple, as the signal caller, Fortino will have plenty of weapons to choose from.
Leading the way is Jourdan Soares, a bona fide deep threat. The fastest player on the field, Soares (6-foot-2, 170) hauled in 29 receptions for 661 yards and seven touchdowns in just six tilts last season.
Ryan Alba (6-foot, 170 pounds) another receiver with wheels will line up opposite Soares. Toss in transfer Christian Goldstein (6-foot, 180) and Brendan Holler (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) up from the junior varsity squad, Fortino’s options are plentiful.
One word, of many, that is frequently tossed around among the players and coaches, which can define GHS this season is “different.”
One area that must reflect that difference if the Mustangs expect to contend in the TCAL is on the defensive side of the ball. Gilroy surrendered a staggering 2,402 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground in 2010. In the run-heavy TCAL, that’s a problem that needs a quick fix.
“First it’s running to the ball and tackling — two simple things that should be taught to any defense. It doesn’t matter what scheme you run, if you can’t do those two things, you can’t play defensive football,” he said.
“It’s having a little swagger to you on defense. You have to have little bit of that cockiness. It’s a mindset. Not only coaching up the kids but getting their minds trained to think like a defensive player.”
Another difference heading into the season: the Mustangs have a guy they can actually deem as the team’s main running back.
Brandon Boyd, a stout 5-foot-8, 180-pound sophomore, has shown the ability during training camp to reel off big runs after using his strength to break through the first level of the defense. His addition can provide much-needed balance.
“He’s going to surprise a lot of people, I think. Our wide receivers can create a lot of mismatches, and he’s going to sneak up on people,” Lo said. “He’s got some good vision, he’s shifty, and he’s a pretty mature runner.”
WHO TO WATCH
Alfredo Mireles, OL/DL: The lone returning starter to the GHS offensive line, senior Alfredo Mireles (6-foot, 245 pounds) must set the example for the younger linemen. Providing protection for quarterback Niko Fortino is paramount in executing the Mustangs’ quick-strike offense, whether it’s clearing the lane for ball carriers, or giving Fortino that extra two seconds to find his open receiver. It all starts with Mireles in 2011.
Ian Morlang, LB: Morlang has had an extremely productive offseason, beginning with winter workouts and continuing through to last Friday’s four-team scrimmage. At 6-feet, 205 pounds, the junior fits the mold of defensive coordinator Zach Hewett’s nose-for-the-ball mentality.
Jourdan Soares, WR/DB: If Jourdan Soares can keep his focus on the game, the team and the overall goal coach Steven Lo has outlined for the Mustangs, the two-time all-league player is in line for one of the most productive seasons in program history. In an injury-shortened 2010, Soares had games of 260 yards, 197 yards and 122 yards. The kid can fly, but the Mustangs want to make sure he is grounded.
Brendan Holler, WR: In a sea of wide receivers, junior Brendan Holler is managing to stay afloat and grab the attention of his coaches. Holler can go up and get a fade pass in the corner of the end zone as well as catch a short receiver screen and burst up field. His versatility meshes well with the rest of the receiving corps.
QUICK HITTER
The Mustangs have gone 3-5 in nonleague games over the past two seasons — two of the victories were over Live Oak, the other against Christopher in the inaugural Severance Bowl. The nonleague schedule is identical to last season and begins against Live Oak on Friday, followed by Saratoga in Week 1 and Leland in Week 2. How the Mustangs get out of the gates will play a crucial part in how they run the rest of the race.
2011 SCHEDULE
Friday: Live Oak, 7:30
Sept. 9: Saratoga, 7:30
Sept. 16: At Leland, 7
*Oct. 1: North Salinas, 5
*Oct 7: Alvarez, 7:30
*Oct. 14: At Alisal, 7:30
*Oct. 21: At Salinas, 7:30
*Oct. 28: Palma, 7:30
*Nov. 4: At San Benito, 7:30
**Nov. 10: At Christopher, 7:30
Home games in bold
(*) league game
(**) neutral site
