A 28-21 loss to rival Live Oak wasn’t the only bad news for the
Gilroy High football team this weekend.
Where does one begin?
A 28-21 loss to rival Live Oak wasn’t the only bad news for the Gilroy High football team this weekend.
Where does one begin?
Start with the Central Coast Section rushing title. The Mustangs’ Justin Sweeney, who came into the weekend 88 yards behind Santa Teresa’s Marlon Rosales, did his part by piling up 181 yards on Friday.
It wasn’t quite enough, though, as Rosales rushed for 102 yards, some of which came well into the fourth quarter of Santa Teresa’s 42-12 win over Prospect Saturday.
The final tally? Rosales 1670, Sweeney 1661.
Just wait – there’s more.
Instead of being a fifth seed (Large Schools Division) and making plans for a road trip to San Jose’s Independence High, Gilroy would be a No. 4 and preparing for a first-round home game against the aforementioned Santa Teresa if just one of the following had occurred this weekend:
– If Hollister had held onto its 23-14 halftime lead against Palma, the Haybalers would’ve been placed in the Open Division and the Mustangs would’ve moved up to the No. 4 spot in the Large Schools Division. Or if …
– Menlo-Atherton had beaten Woodside, it would’ve joined Gilroy in the Large Schools Division, thus knocking the smaller Wilcox (No. 3 seed) to the Medium Schools Division. Because of a higher point total, GHS would’ve been seeded higher than M-A. Or if …
– Monterey had beaten Seaside, that would’ve knocked Seaside out of the playoffs and placed Alisal in the Large Schools Division, again knocking the smaller Wilcox down a division.
Bottom line: The Mustangs won’t be playing at home and there won’t be a showdown between the top two rushers in CCS.
There is, however, some silver lining to Saturday night’s 7:00 game in San Jose.
For one, the Mustangs won’t be playing at home, where they’re just 2-3 this season. They’ll be competing on the road, where they’re 5-0.
“I love it,” GHS junior linebacker Taylor Micali said. “We like being on the road when everybody is against us.”
There’s also something the Mustangs’ head coach said you can “tally under the Coach Yafai silly superstitions” category.
Almost 19 years ago to the day, Gilroy won its last CCS playoff game. The Mustangs have been to the postseason five times since then and have bowed out in the first round every time.
The opponent that day in 1985?
None other than Independence High, which Gilroy hasn’t faced since.
The diminutive GHS receiver that day in 1985?
None other than current head coach Darren Yafai.
The current principal at Independence?
None other than former Gilroy principal Wendy Gudalewicz, whose tenure at the school ended in controversy two years ago.
“I think it was just destined that Gilroy and Independence would face each other this week,” Yafai said.
“Then again, I’m a tad bit superstitious.”
