Twenty games have taken place since the Alvarez Eagles have won
a varsity football contest. The streak spans over three
seasons.
Gilroy – Twenty games have taken place since the Alvarez Eagles have won a varsity football contest. The streak spans over three seasons.
The Gilroy Mustangs knows that if that number doesn’t increase after tonight’s 7:30pm game, their hopes for a TCAL title could go up in smoke. Simply put, it’s a game the players and coaching staff believe they should win, and win handily. But according to GHS coach Rich Hammond, the Eagles will be putting a much better squad on the turf than in years past.
“They haven’t been able to finish games but they have been (ahead in) games in the second half,” he said. “So, that’s a marked improvement.”
The matchup features the TCAL’s highest scoring offense against the league’s most porous defense. GHS (2-2 overall, 1-0 TCAL) is averaging 25.5 points in four games while Alvarez (0-5, 0-1) has given up 35 per contest. For a Mustang squad that showcases statistically the best quarterback in the section (Jamie Jensen) and five of the league’s top six receivers (Dante Fullard, Travis Reyes, Sean Hale, Danny Contreras and Marshad Johnson), there is a possibility the scoreboard operator could go home with blisters.
The Mustangs are viewing tonight’s contest as a statement game to the rest of the league. A close-win could allow opponents to find weaknesses while a strong victory would only solidify Gilroy’s position as contenders.
“My biggest thing with our kids this week is, you gotta kind of play the nameless opponent,” Hammond said. “If we want to win the TCAL we can’t just not get better one week because we’re the better team (on paper). Our biggest thing this week is getting better and kind of playing ourselves so to speak. Because we gotta take steps forward.”
Junior cornerback Peter Guenther spelled out what those steps forward are.
“It’s a game we should win, and it shouldn’t be close,” he said. “We should be able to blow ’em out – maybe goose eggs.”
While the Eagles have only been shutout once, in their season opener at North Monterey County (16-0), Alvarez has played tough in the first halves of several ball games, including standing toe-to-toe with San Benito last week before giving up 26 second-half points in a 29-13 loss.
“Pretty much, we’re not trying to take any team lightly so we just need to put ’em away like we’re supposed to,” junior receiver Dante Fullard said. “Just not think about who they played or what their record is.”
The Eagles run a “Pistol” attack on offense, with 6-foot, 4-inch quarterback Matt Baker calling the signals. Alvarez will line up in a shotgun formation with running back Esau Merino (258 yards rushing, 5.2 yards per carry) lined up slightly behind Baker. Using intermediate passes and sweeps to either side, the goal is to spread Gilroy’s defense out and find mismatches.
GHS is expected to counter by shifting from a 3-4 base defense to a nickel, which only requires replacing a linebacker with an extra safety. The goal is to force Baker (zero touchdowns, six interceptions) into making mistakes if the home team is able to get an early lead.
