Gilroy
It’s been nearly a year since Gilroy picked up its last win — but that all ended Friday.
The Mustangs shut out the Bulldogs 28-0 at home to pick up their first win of the season and the first since beating Everett Alvarez on Oct. 11, 2012.
“It feels good. I can remember the last — it’s been awhile,” Mustangs coach Brian Boyd said. “That was our goal, we wanted the zero. We wanted to shut them out, that was our goal. The boys tackling improved — we did a lot of leg tackling drills and they were doing it all night.”
Gilroy (1-1) led a well balanced attack, scoring three touchdowns on offense and one on special teams — a 70-yard punt return from senior Bubba Lara.
“I was just thinking about running the ball basically,” Lara said. “I was just looking for that hole to open up in the middle. I know my guys and we have good blocking on punt returns. It was open, my guys did their job and I did my job.”
The Bulldogs (0-2) said they focused all week on stopping Gilroy standout running back Brandon Boyd, a job they did effectively the first half by holding him to just 65 yards. But the senior got things rolling after the break, finishing the game with 242 yards and two touchdowns.
“In the Morgan Hill Times we saw the quotation from him that said it didn’t look like Sobrato’s defense is very good,” Bulldogs coach Albert King said. “I know tonight when he’s taking his ice bath, he’ll be thinking twice about saying that ever again.
“We have a lot of respect for him, he’s a hell of a back. But anytime you give an opposition fuel we’re going to use that and we’re going to take advantage of that.”
Sobrato suffered a blow before halftime, losing quarterback Nick Secolo to an injury. The Bulldog QB led the team in rushing, gaining 84 yards on six carries and was 3 for 9 for 99 yards in limited play, hitting his favorite target JoJo Nunn three times for 94 yards.
“This game was a little disappointing, but we’re just taking it one step at a time right now,” Nunn said. “We’re a young team, we’ve got lots of things going on right now. …We’ve got to keep rolling, keep going and just grind it.”
Gilroy’s sophomore QB David Munoz continued to improve, going 16 for 29 for 209 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Munoz said he’s starting to find his groove within the Mustangs offense.
“I’m starting to get comfortable,” Munoz said. “There might be pressure but I don’t feel any of it. I’m just focused on what I’m doing and just do my best.”
Gilroy will take to the road next week, taking on Monte Vista (1-1), who lost 36-3 to Pacific Grove, at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Watsonville. The Mustangs are not taking MV lightly and said they will start preparing for them as early as Saturday morning.
“Monte Vista is always good. …It’s a hell of a program over there,” Brian Boyd said. “We think we’re good against the spread — which that’s what they run. It’s going to be tough; they’re a good program. I don’t know how they did tonight but we’ll look at it and look forward to it — we think we’ll be fine with them.”
Sobrato will play its crosstown rival Live Oak (1-1) — who lost 38-8 to Christopher — in the El Toro Bowl at 7 p.m. Friday in Morgan Hill.
“We just need to win,” Nunn said. “We need to work hard, come together as a team and just win as a team. That means making the blocks, making the tackles and playing good defense — offense wins gamess, defense wins championships.”
It feels good. I can remember the last — it’s been awhile. That was our goal, we wanted the zero. We wanted to shut them out, that was our goal. The boys tackling improved — we did a lot of leg tackling drills and they were doing it all night.”
