Weekly awards went the way of the dodo for this edition since
Gilroy High football has finally wrapped up its 10-game regular
season.
Serra (7-3) is waiting in the playoff wings, but since it took
nearly three months to get to this point, and possibly the next
month will be dedicated to nothing other than the Central Coast
Section playoffs, I thought it would only be right to hand out our
some awards that take the long haul into account.
Weekly awards went the way of the dodo for this edition since Gilroy High football has finally wrapped up its 10-game regular season.
Serra (7-3) is waiting in the playoff wings, but since it took nearly three months to get to this point, and possibly the next month will be dedicated to nothing other than the Central Coast Section playoffs, I thought it would only be right to hand out our some awards that take the long haul into account.
I consulted coaches on who they thought might deserve recognition, but in the end I went with my gut.
Here are your top players for the 2008 season.
Offensive MVP
Jamie Jensen got most of the publicity coming into the year, but no player has been more responsible for Gilroy’s success through the air than receiver Dante Fullard (70 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns).
I don’t have his yards after the catch numbers, but Fullard’s YAC is disgusting. Jensen does a great job of letting his receivers make plays after short routes, but Fullard has routinely busted off big gains despite having defenders draped on his legs like toddlers.
How he doesn’t have offers from several schools to play college ball is beyond me.
Defensive MVP
This one is far tougher. Senior safety Tony Travis has been the most consistent from start to finish with six interceptions. Richie Sotelo has been the most electric around the ball but has missed games due to injury. Defensive ends Brandon Elam and Chris McMurray have been abusing opposing O-lines. McMurray has more sacks while Elam is stouter against the run and faces more double teams.
Last season, Gilroy’s defense had 19 sacks in 13 games. This year, the team has recorded more than 50, according to defensive coordinator Chris Vasseur. Fifty is downright filthy.
I’m giving it to Travis because no player has made more plays on their own while also covering up others’ mistakes. Travis has been responsible for stopping numerous touchdowns this season as the final obstacle.
Special Teams MVP
Richie Sotelo has added a dimension that was lacking most of last season. Returning several kickoffs and punts for touchdowns, Sotelo makes Gilroy a more complete team. Now that he’s also seeing time on offense as well, there is no doubt he’ll play a major role in the games to come.
Biggest Surprise
Chris McMurray would be an obvious choice and Peter Guenther has been great in his switch from cornerback to fullback, but how about Adrian Melendez. At 5-foot-2, 130 pounds, Melendez is a beast on special teams and has no problem taking on big backs in the hole. He also has several sacks.
You would be hard-pressed to find another starting defensive back his size in the whole section. Oh, yeah, Melendez mainly plays linebacker.
TCAL
Passing
Name, School Com Att Yd Int TD
Jensen, Gilroy 184 286 2902 13 28
Fales, Palma 117 166 1864 3 19
Rocamora, Alvarez 75 145 826 11 6
Vallejo, Hollister 49 123 744 6 5
Mi. Ramos, N. Salinas 43 96 721 14 10
Aportela, Alisal 48 115 565 9 3
Gregg, Salinas 34 100 554 13 6
Marra, Gilroy 47 68 457 3 5
De La Rosa, Alvarez 18 57 232 4 0
Fabing, Hollister 19 38 204 0 4
Decker, Hollister 8 17 73 1 0
Rushing
Name, School Att Yd Avg
Ma. Ramos, N. Salinas 149 1242 8.3
Jelks, Salinas 205 1027 5.0
Olivarria, Palma 131 962 7.3
Bautista, N. Salinas 129 711 5.5
Enriquez, Alisal 121 628 5.1
Grant, Alisal 85 516 6.0
Guenther, Gilroy 48 402 8.3
Brooks, N. Salinas 40 383 9.5
Bernaldez, Hollister 75 334 4.4
Mendez, Alisal 57 262 4.5
Padilla, Hollister 65 259 3.9
Suarez-Lopez, Alisal 42 238 5.6
Jones, Alvarez 33 226 6.8
Rosa, Alvarez 28 221 7.8
Melesio, Alvarez 75 219 2.9
Gregg, Salinas 74 202 2.7
Vega, Alvarez 42 178 4.2
Souza, Salinas 25 155 6.2
B. Taylor, Palma 20 154 7.7
Fullard, Gilroy 21 152 7.2
Cathirell, Hollister 29 135 4.6
Rushing touchdown leaders: Olivarria (Palma) 10, Ma. Ramos (N. Salinas) 9, Bautista (N. Salinas) 8, Enriquez (Alisal) 7, Jelks (Salinas) 7, Fullard (Gilroy) 6, Gregg (Salinas) 5.
Receiving
Name, School Rec Yds Avg
Fullard, Gilroy 70 1200 17.1
Chernetsky, Palma 48 853 17.7
Hale, Gilroy 37 668 18.0
Guenther, Gilroy 36 402 11.1
Perez, Alvarez 31 413 13.3
McFadden, Hollister 29 463 15.9
Martinez, Gilroy 20 258 12.9
B. Taylor, Palma 19 381 20.3
Olivarria, Palma 19 288 15.1
Gettys, Gilroy 19 253 13.3
Grant, Alisal 17 155 9.1
Crosby, Salinas 16 288 18.0
Melesio, Alvarez 16 110 6.8
G. Taylor, Palma 15 179 11.9
Sanchez, Gilroy 14 190 13.5
Delgado, Gilroy 13 182 14.0
Cornell, Hollister 11 238 21.6
Mosley, N. Salinas 11 179 16.2
Martinez, N. Salinas 10 277 27.7
Suarez-Lopez, Alisal 10 127 12.7
Romero, Alvarez 9 80 8.8
Ma. Ramos, N. Salinas 8 118 14.7
Skinner, Alvarez 8 101 12.6
Cathirell, Hollister 7 73 10.4
Receiving touchdown leaders: Fullard (Gilroy) 14, Chernetsky (Palma) 13, Hale (Gilroy) 6, Perez (Alvarez) 6, Martinez (N. Salinas) 6, Crosby (Salinas) 5.
