Gilroy
Despite a 52-41 loss to Live Oak in the Sept. 6 season opener, the Gilroy Mustangs have a lot to feel confident about.
Gilroy was able to establish its run game behind its superstar Brandon Boyd, who returned from the injury he suffered in week three last season. Boyd picked up 331 yards on 47 carries and scored four touchdowns in the contest.
Heading into the season, coach Brian Boyd predicted his senior running back could gain at least 200 yards a game. With Brandon putting up the numbers he did against a strong Acorns defense, the Gilroy coach is confident in the Mustangs being able to establish their run game this week — especially if Sobrato takes the same defensive approach it did in Week 1.
“If Sobrato does what they did defensively against Christopher and get out there in that formation, I would expect Brandon to do everything he did this last week if not more,” Brian Boyd said. “They were putting one linebacker in the middle where Live Oak was putting three — they were running like a three-three stack. Sobrato is running a cover two which will open up the middle for Brandon, we’ve only got one guy to block instead of three.”
Gilroy will take on the Bulldogs, a team that lost 36-6 to Christopher last week, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home. After reviewing their own film, the Mustangs know that they need to start making their tackles in order to be successful.
The Mustangs allowed Live Oak standout Trevor Bearden to gain 476 yards on 30 carries and score five touchdowns in the season opener. With a core of this defense being young and inexperienced, the focus of practice this week has been on tackling.
“The boys were in the right in the spots. They were doing what they were supposed to do, they just weren’t able to tackle Bearden,” Brian Boyd said. “We have so many new kids that don’t even know or understand how to tackle. If you try to tackle a truck, you’re going to get run over — that’s pretty much what it was.”
The Mustangs will be directing their attention on Sobrato’s wide receiver JoJo Nunn. While he’s the focus of the Bulldog’s offense, Christopher was able to contain him to just four catches for 77 yards.
With all eyes on Brandon Boyd, Gilroy is hoping that its sophomore QB David Munoz will get a chance to throw the ball a little more — and that its receivers will have the chance to catch it. Munoz was 11 for 19 for 150 yards and two touchdowns against Live Oak, with one of his favorite targets being fellow sophomore Riley Filice-Hollar. Gilroy also had stellar performances from sophomores Adrian Alba at right tackle and Noe Garcia at linebacker, a trend coach Brian Boyd hopes will continue in Week 2.
“Our receivers just need to catch the ball a little bit more and we’re good,” he said. “Everybody was extremely pleased with our offense. All four of them did a phenominal job for their first varsity football game.”
“If you try to tackle a truck, you’re going to get run over.” — GHS coach Brian Boyd on facing Live Oak’s Trevor Bearden last week.
