Gilroy High coming off 14-10 loss at Woodside
By Marc David Sports Editor
Gilroy – It’s one thing to be beaten by a superior opponent. It’s another to beat yourselves.
First-year Gilroy high head coach Rich Hammond is not having trouble finding good football players. He’s having difficulty teaching those players how to win.
Last Friday was a good example when the Mustangs lost 14-10 at Woodside. Except for three or four plays, GHS dominated the game. The Mustangs controlled the ball and almost completely shut down the Wildcats in the second half.
But despite two second-half drives into the red zone, Gilroy came away with just three points. In fact, the Mustangs’ fourth-quarter drive went 91 yards and came away with nothing. And that was what rankled Hammond.
“At no point did I think we were not going to score,” Hammond said. “I figured I would be talking about an eight-minute, 94-yard drive. The kids have to believe. I am not sure they are at that point yet. We’ve just got to keep taking reps at practice so it becomes automatic. When you get that close to the goal line, you’ve got to score.”
There was plenty to like about the Mustangs’ performance. Subtract two Matt Pelasasa-to-Anthony Mendoza completions for 71 yards, a Pelasasa 33-yard keeper and his 30-yard pass to Zach Test, and Woodside had 103 yards of total offense. GHS had a 27:39-20:21 advantage in time of possession and got another strong effort from Paul Gonzales, who ran for 122 yards on 20 carries.
And yet, it went for naught because the Mustangs didn’t make enough big plays.
“Our red-zone offense was awful,” Hammond acknowledged. “When you get down to the 1, it’s gut-check time. We’re just not getting it done.
“We should have won the game. They were a highly regarded team, picked No. 1 in San Mateo County, and we had a chance to beat them at their place. They’re guys made the plays. We didn’t.”
It doesn’t get any easier for GHS with a visit Friday to Oak Grove, but Hammond doesn’t feel the Eagles are a level above the Mustangs.
He’s just hoping this is the week Gilroy will taste the end zone more often when it smells the goal line.
