GILROY—Saturday marked a new beginning for Gilroy. The Mustangs left the struggles of recent years in the past and marched out onto the team’s brand new field, determined to defend it.
And they did.
Gilroy topped Watsonville 20-13 in the Monterey Bay League-Pacific opener in a back-and-forth contest. But in the end, two big passes from Jon Jon Castro to Tanner Wiggins proved to be the difference in the game.
With the game tied at 6-all in the second quarter, sophomore running back Antonio Andrade exploded up the left side for a 33-yard gain into Watsonville territory. The Mustangs capped the six-play, 81-yard drive off when Castro hit Wiggins right on the numbers in the right hand corner of the endzone to lead 13-6.
In the fourth quarter, Watsonville tied the game again at 13-13 with 10:10 left on the clock as Daniel Olivarez charged into the endzone from three yards out.
But Gilroy wasn’t done yet.
Facing a third-and-seven situation at their own 37, Castro scanned the field and saw Wiggins all alone, deep in Watsonville’s zone. He reeled back and connected with the senior wide receiver, who bobbled but regained possession of the ball to complete a 63-yard catch and run play to stroll into the endzone.
“I just did whatever I could to help the team,” said Wiggins, who had five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. “It feels great to win here. This field is awesome and we’re going to get many more wins out here.”
Castro finished 7 for 12 with 119 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Watsonville struck first as Tyron Trout-Lacy made a risky leap over a Mustang into the endzone for a touchdown. But the Wildcatz had to settle for a 6-0 lead Gilroy’s Joe Torres blocked the point after attempt.
Gilroy evened the score on their next possession. Andrade punched the ball through a crowd of Wildcatz with 2:38 remaining in the first half. Watsonville took a page from Gilroy’s book and blocked the PAT to tie the game at 6-6.
“It was a great high school football game,” Wildcatz coach Ron Myers said. “We seemed like we were blocking really well and were able to move the ball… Defensively, Gilroy had those big plays, two big passes that did us in.”
Andrade gave Watsonville fits on both sides of the ball. The sophomore running back/linebacker was playing his first game since getting injured against Live Oak in Week 1 and he made it count. He racked up 110 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. Defensively, he sacked Watsonville’s Nathaniel Perez for a loss of seven yards, effectively silencing a drive that started at the Gilroy 36 and ended at midfield.
“We all knew it was in him,” Gilroy coach Jubenal Rodriguez said of Andrade. “I’m not surprised that he performed this way.”
A beaming Andrade was left speechless after the game, but later said earning the team’s first league win felt “amazing.”
“I just wanted to stay disciplined and focused,” he said. “(I thought) ‘just don’t look at the backfield.’ I just read my keys and we came out with the win.”
Watsonville’s Olivarez also had a stellar game, notching 142 on 24 carries with a touchdown.
“(Our) first wing TJ got hurt and Olivarez became the load carrier,” Myers said. “He’s a little guy, but he’s got a lot of heart.”
Untimely penalties and fumbles hurt the Wildcatz as they drew nine flags for 55 yards and fumbled four times—all of which they recovered. As Watsonville crossed midfield late in the fourth quarter, it fumbled the ball and lost eight yards. They drew a penalty on the next play, giving them a second-and-23 situation, which they could not convert.
The Wildcatz also found themselves being chased down by the likes of senior middle linebacker Noe Garcia, who racked 13 tackles in the game.
Watsonville (2-3 overall, 0-1 in league) will host North Salinas at 7 p.m. Oct. 9.
“We have a big challenge playing North Salinas, which is completely different type of offense than Gilroy,” Myers said. “For our kids, it’s about stopping the pass. It’s been our Achilles heel.”
The Mustangs (2-2 overall, 1-0 in league) will play at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at Alisal. Rodriguez said his team has to remain consistent at practice in order to notch another league win.
“We’ll enjoy this one today, but it’s a whole new game next week,” the Mustangs coach said. “Like I told you months ago, with each new week, that’s the most important game.”
