GILROY – Whether Friday night’s game is described as a rugged defensive battle or a grinding offensive struggle a win is a win, and for the Gilroy High football team, its 21-0 shut out of Tri-County Athletic League opponent Everett Alvarez was exactly what it needed.
GILROY – Whether Friday night’s game is described as a rugged defensive battle or a grinding offensive struggle a win is a win, and for the Gilroy High football team, its 21-0 shut out of Tri-County Athletic League opponent Everett Alvarez was exactly what it needed.
The defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions and a fumble. And after a sloppy, penalty-laden opening half that had the two teams deadlocked at 0-0, the Mustangs’ (2-3, 1-0) offense found life in the second half, scoring three times to turn away the visiting Eagles (1-4, 0-1) on Homecoming and snap a three-game losing streak.
A full 48-minute effort had eluded the Mustangs thus far this season, with slow starts and defensive difficulties ruining ball games early.
However, Friday night, the Mustangs made plays on both sides of the ball when they had to, constantly shuffling players in and out of the game to find the right mix.
“We achieved all our goals,” head coach Greg Garcia said. “We didn’t let them score first. We scored first and kept building on it. It was full-throttle the whole time. Keep going, keep fighting no matter what the situation is.”
Senior Jordan Holler ripped off two first half interceptions, and senior Logan Sweeney recovered a fumble in the end zone midway through the first quarter, thwarting the Eagles’ best threat of the night.
After a slow start, – the Eagles had the ball on offense 37 times in the first half to the Mustangs 13 – quarterback Nick Marra settled in, tossing three second half touchdowns.
The first score came on the Mustangs’ initial drive of the third quarter. It took Gilroy a little more than a minute and just six plays to cover 56 yards, with Marra finding Holler on a deep corner for a 31-yard touchdown.
“The safeties were playing in the middle, so I just cut outside. (Marra) saw me and I was in the right spot.”
Marra scampered in from six yards out, to put the Mustangs up 14-0 late in the third quarter, capping a drive aided mostly by Eagles’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
After the defense forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs for the third time in the game, the Mustangs took over from their own 25-yard line and proceeded to put the game away with four minutes and change left to play in the fourth.
An 11-play, 75-yard drive ensued, highlighted by pass plays of 14 yards to Thomas Harrington on third-and-eight, and 16 yards to Nico Sandoval on third-and-10.
The series concluded with a Marra to Jordan Soares 29-yard touchdown connection, giving the Mustangs a comfortable 21-0 cushion.
“”It feels good to get out and get a win,” said Sandoval who also had a fourth quarter interception. “We still have a lot of things to work on, but (the shut out) was definitely confidence boosting. We made a couple big plays.”
