Lemmon and Cantu have adjusted to new scheme
Gilroy – Switching coaches is always an adjustment.
When the whole defensive scheme changes, the adjustments are more acute. Gilroy senior inside linebackers Brandyn Lemmon and Jacob Cantu know this better than most players.
Lemmon was a noseguard and Cantu was a linebacker in a 50 defense last year. The Mustangs use a 4-3 defense this season.
“It was an adjustment,” coach Rich Hammond said. “They have improved as the season has gone on. Cantu flies around and disrupts a lot of plays. Lemmon has made more big plays as the season has progressed. They’re both hard-working kids with real positive attitudes.”
They will be key players when Gilroy finishes its Tri-County Athletic League road schedule with a game at North Salinas. The Vikings are coached by Steve Zenk, who was on the same Hollister staff with Hammond from 2000-02.
Sophomore quarterback Michael Ramos is second in the TCAL with 909 yards passing. Devin Camel, who Hammond calls a “dangerous runners, is fifth in the league in rushing with 554 yards.
“Our mentality is our backs are against the wall,” the 5-11, 200-pound Lemmon said. “We’ve got to come out swinging. We have to win this game and then the next one if we want to go to the playoffs.”
The Mustangs’ defense has been outstanding over 18 of their last 20 quarters. Other than the second half against Alisal, GHS has yielded 34 points in 18 quarters.
“Each week we have progressed,” said the 5-9, 185-pound Cantu. “This past week (14-0 loss to Palma), we played well with the exception of the one play (72-yard draw).”
Cantu is getting used to more responsibility on the outside; Lemmon with different reads. Each admitted that there were growing pains earlier in the season. But that was the case for others on the defensive side as well.
Lemmon doesn’t anticipate any problem getting ready for North Salinas even with San Benito looming six days later.
“If we don’t win against North Salinas it won’t matter,” Lemmon said. “We have to take care of that game.”
“We have to continue to improve,” Cantu said. “I feel we have done that throughout the season. We can’t stop now.”
Notes: This will be the season finale for North Salinas, the first TCAL team to complete its season…Paul Gonzales leads the league in rushing, 218 yards in front of runner-up Andrew Russo of Salinas. Gonzales’ 7.3 average per carry is also tops among backs with 20 or more carries…Among common opponents, each teams owns a win over Alvarez and losses to Alisal and Palma. The one difference is against Salinas, which beat the Vikings 28-7 last week. Gilroy defeated the Cowboys 36-14.
