GHS football receives 15 All-League honors; Gray, Hemeon named
to 1st team
By SCOTT FORSTNER
Sports Editor
GILROY
– Four straight victories started the Gilroy High football
team’s season and, despite notching only one win the
rough-and-tumble Tri-County Athletic League, the Mustang gridmen
still had a lot to be proud of.
Although the team did not earn a CCS Playoff berth this year, Gilroy – which had one win taken away due to late paperwork on a transfer student – was honored with two first team, four second team, and six honorable mentions in the Tri-County Athletic League. In addition, three players were named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
“It was a fun group of kids to coach. Winning or losing ,they always kept their heads up and kept fighting. It was nice to finish the year strong with win over Live Oak,” said head coach Darren Yafai, whose squad officially went 4-5-1. “If CCS doesn’t force us to forfeit and we don’t tie Alvarez, we get into the playoffs.”
Regardless, the Mustangs made the most of their season – defeating Terra Nova and Santa Cruz, two teams that qualified for CCS, as well as Monte Vista Christian. Gilroy’s 30-6 victory over San Lorenzo Valley was overturned because of the eligibility infraction. Then after coming from behind to tie Alvarez, the garlic gridmen suffered hard-fought league losses to Salinas, North Salinas, Hollister and section champion Palma.
“I think people have said that the past four years our league is the toughest or at least tied for toughest league in the whole section with West Catholic League,” Yafai said. “If teams from our league played in any other league around, they’d win league championships left and right.”
Senior defensive end Korey Gray – who was picked for the T-CAL’s second team last season – was honored with one of Gilroy’s first team selections this year. The menacing defender was a force for the stingy Mustang defensive unit.
“He had a great season for us,” said Yafai of Gray. “Last year he was more of a pass rusher and he really this offseason worked hard to get stronger and work on his technique. … He’s not the biggest of defensive ends, but he makes up for it by being very strong, using good technique and good athleticism.”
Senior quarterback Ben Hemeon was also named to the first team All-League, after completing 68 of 145 pass attempts for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. On the ground, the senior leader scrambled for 148 yards and four touchdowns.
“In our wins, he played very well. In a couple of our losses, it was a matter of our whole team struggled,” said Yafai of Hemeon. “He was a big part of the five games we won on the field.”
Behind 14-6 to Alvarez in Gilroy’s homecoming game, Hemeon led the Mustangs on the game-tying drive, hooking up with junior receiver Jared Gamm for a 39-yard touchdown pass. Hemeon then converted the game-tying two-point conversion on a short pass to senior tight end Roger Ortiz.
“In our five victories, he was a big part and even the tie,” Yafai said. “The Alvarez game, we could have easily lost. He led us in our fourth-quarter comeback.”
Hemeon’s senior campaign was highlighted by his Jeff Garcia-like performance in a 35-0 win over Monte Vista Christian as he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more.
Despite battling injuries for most of the season, senior tailback Melvin Bryant still led the Mustangs in rushing with 587 yards and five touchdowns. The versatile back – who also caught 14 passes for 108 yards and a TD – was selected to the T-CAL’s second team.
“For two years in a row, he battled through injuries. He finished both seasons with broken bones,” said Yafai of Bryant, who broke his hand in the finale against Live Oak. “He’s a very tough kid. He helped us catching the ball. He helped us as a runner and he was one of our better blockers in the backfield.”
Senior defensive end Nick Mason, who did not start as a junior, jumped into the starting line-up this season and made an immediate impact – earning him second team All-League honors.
“He was kinda our surprise defensive player. He came out of the wood works. He really worked hard in the offseason,” said Yafai of Mason. “He was even considered for first team. For him to go from not even stepping on field last year to being a starter this year was huge.”
The other two second team selections from Gilroy were senior lineman Jose Albarran, who anchored the offensive line all season, and senior linebacker Danny Melendez, who was the team’s most improved player.
“Early on in the season, (Melendez) struggled and then it got to a point where the second half of season he was probably our most dominant defensive player,” Yafai said. “He had a knack for making big plays and big hits.”
The six honorable mentions were: junior guard John Torres, junior cornerback Shea Lemos; sophomore center Bobby Best; junior free safety Jared Gamm, sophomore place-kicker Neil Martin; and senior outside backer Nick Fortino.
“We return 33 players off our varsity roster,” Yafai said.
Gilroy three All-Sportsmanship selections were senior lineman Derrick Hentske, junior back Louie Gutierrez, and senior receiver A.J. Rai, who scored his first career touchdown in the 14-6 victory over Live Oak to end the season.
