Last year at this time, Ben Hemeon entered his senior season as
Gilroy High’s starting quarterback.
This year, Peter Mickartz enters his senior season as Gilroy
High’s starting quarterback.
And that’s about where the similarities end between the two.
Last year at this time, Ben Hemeon entered his senior season as Gilroy High’s starting quarterback.
This year, Peter Mickartz enters his senior season as Gilroy High’s starting quarterback.
And that’s about where the similarities end between the two.
“Yeah, the quarterback situation is a little bit different this time,” said Mustangs’ head coach Darren Yafai.
For one, there’s the experience factor.
After starting as a junior, Hemeon entered his final year entrenched as the starter behind center. He went on to become a first-team all-league selection and was selected to play in this summer’s 30th annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Classic.
Mickartz, a star shortstop/pitcher on the GHS baseball team, had never played football before his freshman year. He enters his senior season with just one year of varsity under his belt, and his only real game experience in 2003 came in mop-up time.
“In our first few games last year, I would hear the band and see all the people, and it was pretty shocking,” Mickartz said. “I was almost glad I wasn’t out there, because I’m not sure how I would’ve handled it.
“But I waited my turn and got used to everything. Now I’m ready to go.”
Mickartz might be ready to go, but he won’t be on the go nearly as much as his predecessor. That’s another major difference.
Hemeon was a runner. When things broke down – and even when they didn’t – the fleet-footed quarterback would take off and try to make things happen himself.
The new signal-caller is the prototype, stay-in-the-pocket passer. Before scrambling, he’ll wait a little longer to see if anything develops downfield.
“I’m not much of a runner,” Mickartz said.
Of course, with a much-more experienced offensive line up front, he shouldn’t have to be.
“Peter has that luxury,” Yafai said. “Ben didn’t.”
And that might just be the biggest difference of all.
Instead of breaking in two fresh-faced sophomores on an already-thin offensive line, this year’s Gilroy team returns four starters on a unit that has “built up some good comraderie,” according to Yafai.
“Last year we were extremely young on the line,” he said. “Not anymore.”
During the offseason, the group added a significant amount of muscle and even won this summer’s third annual Hoggie Fest, a contest in which they outmuscled and outran the offensive linemen of nine area programs.
“They’ve all gotten bigger, stronger and a lot more confident,” Yafai said. “I don’t know if they’ll be the best in the league or not, but I do know we’ll have a much better O-line this year.”
It would almost have to be better than the situation the Mustangs faced the last two years.
According to center Bobby Best, the 2002 senior lineman believed a senior quarterback should be starting and they often took out their frustration on Hemeon.
“They wouldn’t protect him,” Best said.
But last season, when there were struggles up front, the frustration often rested with the quarterback.
“Ben was a senior quarterback behind a young, inexperienced line,” Yafai said. “He was a warrior, but I’m sure it was tough on him.”
So Hemeon ran. And often times, he ran successfully. His offensive line, though, interpreted that decision as a negative toward them, Best said.
“We never really thought he trusted us,” the junior recalled. “We figured he was scared to throw it because he didn’t think we’d give him enough time.”
“It won’t be like that with Peter.”
Indeed, any friction that might have existed in the past seems to be non-existent at this point.
In the offseason, Mickartz became close to his entire offensive line. Not only did they work out together, but they cooked out together, too.
Two weeks ago, the Gilroy offensive lineman barbequed over at the Mickartz house and an enticing bribe was made. For every game Mickartz doesn’t get sacked in this season, each lineman will get a free steak dinner.
“Let’s hope it works,” the hopeful quarterback said.
Bribe or no bribe, though, Mickartz said he’s confident the five guys in front of him this season will give it their full effort.
“I trust these guys a lot,” he said. “Honestly, after being out here with them all summer, I trust them with my life.”
