GILROY
– After injuries plagued their junior seasons and kept them off
the gridiron for much of the year, tailback Melvin Bryant and
quarterback Ben Hemeon are healthy again – returning as senior
leaders for the Gilroy High football team.
GILROY – After injuries plagued their junior seasons and kept them off the gridiron for much of the year, tailback Melvin Bryant and quarterback Ben Hemeon are healthy again – returning as senior leaders for the Gilroy High football team.
“They’re a really good base for what we want to accomplish this year,” offensive coordinator Tim Pierleoni said. “We want to build around them.”
Bryant broke his wrist in the third week of the season on the opening kick-off against San Lorenzo Valley, while Hemeon suffered bruised ribs in a non-league affair against Alvarez. Bryant was in a cast on the sideline and Hemeon – who played sparingly at quarterback after his injury – only entered the game for punting duties.
The two offensive starters, however, salvaged what they could from their junior campaigns by returning for the final game of the season against Live Oak.
“It meant a lot because I still wanted to see if I had it,” said Bryant, who rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown along with making several catches out of the backfield. “It left me on a high note coming into this year.”
Hemeon left the field on a positive note as well, throwing for four touchdowns in the Mustangs’ season-finale victory over rival Live Oak.
“The last game still meant a lot to me to finish out with a bang at the end,” Hemeon said. “I can’t wait for (this season) to start. I just want to get out there.”
Bryant was an unknown commodity for Gilroy last season due to a crowded backfield of seniors J.L. Mangono, Isaiah Gonzalez, and Tony Beal. As a backup, Bryant just waited in the wings for his number to be called.
It was called earlier than expected.
With the Mustangs struggling against Terra Nova in the opener, Bryant immediately made an impact with a long, explosive run. He also saw limited action at defensive back in the first game.
“He’s got the uncanny ability to find seams in the defensive front and slide right through,” head coach Darren Yafai said. “When he’s in the secondary, one-on-one in open space, the defender is going to lose just about every time.”
The next week in Santa Cruz, Bryant shined through even more – rushing for two touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to their first of only two victories. The junior backup had earned the starting job, while his upperclass teammates were entangled in off-the-field turmoil.
“He makes people miss in space. He’s a hard runner. He’s got a good heart,” said Pierleoni of his featured back. “He’s not the biggest kid in the world, but sometimes you don’t need to be.”
Bryant and the Mustangs returned to Gilroy the following week for their home opener when the worst happened. On the opening kick-off, Bryant received, took off running, and was hit by a swarm of San Lorenzo Valley tacklers. Bryant did not get up. He had broken his wrist and ended his season before it even got started.
“I just thought it was dislocated. Basically, I was in shock,” said Bryant, who was sidelined before getting his first hand-off in his first start. “I was ready to show Gilroy something new. They didn’t really know about me. I was going to make a name for myself.”
Instead, Bryant would have to wait and watch.
“It was real hard to watch the team struggle, especially since I felt like I could help them out,” said Bryant, who has muscled up this year to 170 pounds at five-foot-nine. He can bench 260 pounds compared to only 200 pounds last season. “I feel confident. I’m stronger. I’m faster. Overall, I’m just better.”
Now a senior leader, Bryant steps into the starting role – hoping everyone will know his name by season’s end.
“Hopefully, they will know me soon. I’ll make sure SLV remembers me. I’m still kinda mad about that,” Bryant said. “This year we’re trying to prove something. We have nothing to lose.”
Before he even bruised his ribs, Hemeon was in the middle of a quarterback controversy last season since getting the starting nod over two seniors. The situation caused a lot of dissension within the team.
“Last year we had three quarterbacks – two seniors and one junior. Although he legitimately earned the starting job, I think he always felt that maybe a senior quarterback should be starting,” Yafai said. “Now this year he’s a senior; he’s a captain; and we’re really seeing him step forward as a team leader.”
Last season, Hemeon hung in there despite everything. After starting the first six games, Hemeon’s bruised ribs sidelined him. In games seven and eight, he just punted. In game nine, he quarterbacked only a couple of series.
“It did (put a damper on my season), but it helped me kinda learn the offense better. Just watching from the sideline helped me a lot,” Hemeon said. “Last year people didn’t like each other. This year everyone is clicking and things are working out well.”
Hemeon – who will once again double as the team’s punter – worked hard in the offseason, bulking up to 185 pounds at 6’1″.
“He’s a much better football player. He’s much stronger. He understands the offense much better,” said Pierleoni of his starting slinger. “He’s been committed to football this last summer… He’s working really hard. He’s the first in every sprint. He’s a great leader.”
This year, there’s no quarterback controversy either. Hemeon is the senior starter and that’s that. His coaches and teammates agree.
“I’m a leader, but I’m also everyone’s friend. We all respect each other so things are working out pretty well,” Hemeon said. “I just try to go game by game and play my best each game.”
The two offensive leaders will guide Gilroy into its non-league opener Sept. 12 against Terra Nova inside Mustang Stadium.
“Our team chemistry is really good,” Bryant said. “We should shock a lot of people.”
