If the Gilroy Mustangs are going to win a TCAL football title,
the road to glory starts tonight.
Gilroy – If the Gilroy Mustangs are going to win a TCAL football title, the road to glory starts tonight.
Playing at Salinas High School, the Mustangs (1-2) must recover from back-to-back defeats to sectional powers Oak Grove and Serra. And according to GHS coach Rich Hammond, the team needs to make a statement.
“I told the kids, in my opinion, this is the most important game of the year,” he said. “We may play bigger games during the season, but I think it’s our most important because a win here really gets us going in the right direction. I think we need to have a win, and a handle-people win. Not just a scrape-by win.”
After blowing out Mountain View 27-0, losing in agonizing fashion to Oak Grove (27-21) and then having their behinds whipped 52-31 by the Serra Padres, the Mustangs have all the motivation they need. Now it’s about playing at a level their coach feels the team is capable of, and then sustaining that intensity for four quarters.
“I think it comes down to us executing, first and foremost,” Hammond said. “I think (Serra) was a learning experience and I think it was good for our kids because we kind of got knocked down a peg. The kids were feeling good about playing tough against Oak Grove and then we got knocked down a big peg, and I think it’s good because it helps us get back and refocus, especially on the defensive side.”
After giving up more than 500 yards rushing against the Padres, the Mustangs aren’t expecting as strong of a rushing attack from the Salinas Cowboys. Still, questions need to be answered.
“I thought we had a really good practice on the defensive side this week,” Hammond said. “I think that’s what we need to find out and that’s what we’re gonna find out big-time this week. How good are we against the run?”
One player that should help corral Cowboy runners is junior safety Tony Travis. After sitting out the first three games for academics, Travis, the MVP of last year’s junior varsity squad, is expected to give an immediate boost to the defensive platoon, helping to limit long gains.
What the Mustangs must watch out for is the play-action pass that Salinas (3-1) uses so often.
Junior quarterback Michael Sisson is the second leading passer in the TCAL, having thrown for 613 yards, four touchdowns and completing 55 percent of his passes. While his statistics are admirable, GHS quarterback Jamie Jensen’s have been astronomical.
Jensen threw for a school-record 466 yards last week, 16 yards short of the all-time CCS record, and has thrown seven touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his attempts. Five of the top six receivers in the TCAL are from Gilroy, with running back Travis Reyes tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns with three.
By giving its quarterback enough time to step up in the pocket and deliver the ball, Gilroy expects to get back on track.
“It’s definitely a team that we need to beat if we want a TCAL title,” Hammond said. “It’s a game that we should win.”
