After last week’s loss to the Stockton Trojans, Central Coast
Barnstormers head coach Greg Garcia stated the importance of each
game to his two-time defending NorCal champion squad.
After last week’s loss to the Stockton Trojans, Central Coast Barnstormers head coach Greg Garcia stated the importance of each game to his two-time defending NorCal champion squad.
“Anybody can beat anyone on any give day,” Garcia said. “We’re equal and when we finish, we need to make sure we finish ahead.”
Central Coast apparently got the message.
The Barnstormers’ defense forced six turnovers and thumped the California Steelers of Pittsburg 31-0 Saturday to score their first win of the early season.
Lance Goularte had three interceptions, Bobby Jones had two picks and Kevin Stewart intercepted another pass in the Barnstormers’ easy win.
The defense also scored the first points of the game as well, when Tony Beal blocked a Steeler punt at the 10-yard line and Steven Lo scooped and scored for Central Coast.
“It made it a really big game,” said Garcia, commenting on the importance of the win over Pittsburg after last week’s 41-20 loss to Stockton in Gilroy.
“We needed the confidence booster.”
Later in the contest, Rigo Munoz ran the ball in for a touchdown from five yards out, while the placekicker, Jones, connected on a 21-yard field goal to make it 17-0.
Quarterback Rhett Van De Mark (9-26, 133 yards, 2 TD) hooked up with Greg Walton for a 28-yard pass late in the first half to give the Barnstormers a 24-0 lead at halftime.
Van De Mark and Walton connected again for a six-yard score in the second half to put the game away for Central Coast.
Running back Derrick Morrison had 13 rushes for 118 yards.
The Barnstormers will return home to host the Salinas Spartans Saturday.
Kick-off is at 7 p.m. at Gilroy High School.
