A third string quarterback is usually called upon in dire
situations. They are referred to as the emergency quarterback.
So when Gilroy High junior Thomas Harrington stood in the
shotgun behind center midway through the fourth quarter of Friday
night’s game against Archbishop Mitty, it was clear the Mustangs
had reached the end of their means.
With starting signal caller Nick Marra out of the game and back
up Tommy Silvas sidelined with an apparent concussion, Harrington,
who is listed as a tight end on the depth chart, was left to finish
out a dismal 45-13 loss.
LOS ALTOS HILLS – A third string quarterback is usually called upon in dire situations. They are referred to as the emergency quarterback.
So when Gilroy High junior Thomas Harrington stood in the shotgun behind center midway through the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game against Archbishop Mitty, it was clear the Mustangs had reached the end of their means.
With starting signal caller Nick Marra out of the game and back up Tommy Silvas sidelined with an apparent concussion, Harrington, who is listed as a tight end on the depth chart, was left to finish out a dismal 45-13 loss.
The game was a grim reminder that over the course of a year things can drastically change, and the Monarchs were a much improved team compared to the squad that GHS easily handled last year 62-13.
The Monarchs bruised and batted the Mustangs’ defense, pounding the ball on the ground to the tune of 303 yards.
“Hats off to them, they were hungry for it and it showed in the score,” GHS coach Greg Garcia said. “They were big up front and were really physical.”
The Mustangs were forced to play from behind the entire game as the Monarchs jumped out to a 25-0 lead with 6:19 left in the second quarter.
However, for a brief three-minute span it looked as though the Mustangs were on the verge of surging all the way back.
Facing a third-and-13 Marra found a wide open Julius Travis, who managed to get behind two Monarchs defenders, for a 65-yard touchdown score. The play sparked the Mustangs defense who forced a fumble on the Monarchs first play of the ensuing drive.
Three plays later, Marra tossed his second touchdown pass, hitting Bryan Sanchez in stride for a 10-yard score.
“The corner looked like he was cramping a little so I put a couple moves on inside and I beat him over the top,” said Sanchez, who finished with 52 yards on four catches and the one touchdown.
Marra completed 64 percent of his passes (16-25) for 150 yards but could never get the offense in rhythm.
“They brought the house,” Marra said. “Our skill guys blew them out of the water. We just couldn’t get the ball to them.
The comeback attempt didn’t last long as the Monarchs took all of two plays to score their fifth touchdown of the half, increasing the lead into the locker room to 31-13.
Injuries began to plague the Mustangs in the second half as Julius Travis, Romeo Travis, Marra and Silvas all missed significant playing time.
“Some key injuries got us down a bit,” Garcia said. “But I’m proud of different individuals stepping up to the plate.”
