A seven-score blowout was the story last season. Nothing went
right, almost everything went wrong and the scoreboard told the
story: Oak Grove 49, Gilroy 0.
Gilroy – A seven-score blowout was the story last season.
Nothing went right, almost everything went wrong and the scoreboard told the story: Oak Grove 49, Gilroy 0.
While Oak Grove advanced to the CCS Open Division championship, the Mustangs moved on to a 4-6 record. The shame of being beaten so soundly was a clear shot to the team’s confidence. The motto now is that it’s a new year, a new team and a new attitude.
“Last year, I think we came out and we weren’t ready for the football game,” GHS coach Rich Hammond said. “I think the difference between this group of kids and last year, the juniors had a lot of success (going 17-3 on junior varsity). I think the focus needs to be on the here and now and not on what happened in the past. The focus needs to be on how we beat these guys this week, how we reach our objective for a victory.”
The clearest path in sight says the Mustangs will require near-perfect preparation and execution, and a little bit of luck.
The preparation involves accounting for All-CCS Sophomore of the Year Jabbari Carr, who will be a threat to Gilroy as a receiver, free safety and return man. The Mustangs will clearly try to avoid him on kicks as well as on offense.
“I think he’s the best free safety that they’ve had, and I think maybe they’ve had a couple guys in the NFL that played in the secondary,” Hammond said. “But I think he’s better than – he’s the best guy they’ve had.”
If the special teams is able to steer clear of Carr, the ball will still likely land in dangerous hands – Carr’s twin brother Omari also returns kicks.
Executing on offense will be even more important, as the Mustangs will be facing the most aggressive defense it plays all season. Oak Grove tends to use six or seven players in a blitz package almost every down, according to GHS coaches. That means GHS quarterback Jamie Jensen will need to be decisive in the pocket.
“They blitz a lot, so I gotta get rid of the ball quick,” Jensen said.
One player that will be in hot pursuit of Jensen all evening is 6-foot-7 star basketball recruit and defensive end Mark Forrest.
The luck Gilroy could use will be if Oak Grove’s best player – who isn’t named Carr – is unable to play.
“The biggest question is Number 8,” Hammond said, referring to senior Nevin Gardiner, who led the area with 2,054 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns in 2006. “He’s the best player, in my opinion, the best running back in the section, bar-none. And they’re a completely different football team without him.”
Hammond has evidence to back up that claim. In the season opener, Oak Grove was shocked by Saint Francis, losing 31-15 after Gardiner came out of the contest with a sprained ankle. It is unclear if he will be ready to play tonight.
To negate the individual ability of the playmakers Oak Grove puts on the field, Coach Hammond believes his team’s hurry-up offensive attack could be the deciding factor if Gilroy weathers the storm early and limits big plays.
“I think this week, it’s huge for us to stay in the game in the first half, play it tough and play it tight,” he said. “If we do that, I think we win in the second (half) because they have six guys going both ways and we have none.”
Gilroy platoons on offense and defense to keep its players fresh.
“We’re trying to go at a high tempo and a high pace and give them more plays than they’ve ever seen,” Hammond continued. “I think if we keep it close in the first half, we’ll dominate in the second half.”
Senior tight end Marshad Johnson, who knows many of tonight’s opponents, had his own assessment of Oak Grove’s weaknesses, saying some of their star players get lackadaisical if not directly involved in a play.
“If the play’s going to their side they’ll (focus), but if not they won’t guard someone,” he said. “They have all the talent and everything but I think it will be a big win for us, as long as we keep our heads on straight.”
Jensen was similarly confident, saying this game could serve as payback.
“Yeah, of course we want redemption,” he said. “We don’t want to lose 49-0. But we gotta come out with our best.”
