Gilroy football faces another Goliath of a game today after
battling Oak Grove in a thrilling, but punch-to-the-gut loss last
week.
Gilroy football faces another Goliath of a game today after battling Oak Grove in a thrilling, but punch-to-the-gut loss last week.
In order to shock Serra High School (2-1), the No. 2 ranked team in the Central Coast Section according to the San Jose Mercury News, the Mustangs (1-1) will need to be much sharper in executing on offense and limit the big plays and penalties on defense.
Here are three keys to the game if Gilroy is going to have a chance of winning:
1. Gang Tackle – After giving up three touchdowns and more than 200 yards to the best running back in the section (Oak Grove’s Nevin Gardiner) last week – often untouched on his longest gains – Gilroy faces another talented back in De’Leon Eskridge. Eskridge is a top-notch athlete that often runs in a straight line from the beginning to the end of a play. Making him cut back against the grain will allow more defenders to catch up to the speedster, and increase the likelihood that he is brought down.
2. Catch the ball – The offense is designed for GHS quarterback Jamie Jensen to get rid of the ball quick and let his playmakers – wait for it – make plays. Jensen can’t be blamed when ‘Stonehands Sam’ and ‘Butterfingers Billy’ keep dropping balls that would make for manageable second and third downs or even worse, would have moved the chains. Jensen is currently completing 62 percent of his passes but that number should be closer to 70.
3. Use the organ between the ears – Sounds like simple stuff, but mental mistakes were what doomed Gilroy’s goal of being 2-0 and really putting a scare into the big boys in the Bay. The team has an offense that can score and a defense that forces turnovers. Now, if they eliminate false starts, personal fouls and miscommunication when it comes to play calls from the sideline, the Mustangs could become the team to beat in the TCAL along with Palma. Sorry San Benito.
