Gilroy’s Bobby Best is Named League’s Most Valuable Offensive
Lineman
That might be the easiest way to describe what Bobby Best has meant to the Gilroy Mustangs varsity football team over the past three season.
A couple of weeks ago the Gilroy Mustang coaching staff unanimously named him the team’s Most Valuable Player and this week the TCAL coaches voted him the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman.
“It’s an honor and I’m glad that the coaches thought that much of me to name me as the best offensive lineman in our league,” Best said. “I’ve worked hard and it’s a nice reward to have after the season is over.”
Best has been leaving his mark on the gridiron for awhile now. In fact as a sophomore he was named a captain, something his head coach Darren Yafai admits was well deserved, but rare.
“You don’t see too many three-year captains out there because not many sophomores get named as a captain on their varsity team,” Yafai admitted. “Some of the seniors were pretty upset when we named Bobby a captain that year but I told them, ‘Too bad. He’s more talented, works harder than you and he’s also smarter than you.'”
Those three ingredients, good work ethic, exceptional talent and great grades have a number of D1 colleges looking at Best for their football program.
“I’ve talked with five coaches this week,” Best said. “It’s pretty exciting to have that kind of interest.”
As a sophomore Best hurt his right hand so severely that he had to learn how to snap the ball left handed. It’s something he still resorts to from time to time.
“If I get hit really hard on a play with my right hand I’ll snap with my left for a play or two,” Best said. “I guess the thing that I’m the proudest of is that I played every snap on both offense and defense this season. I think, actually I missed two plays when our first team was in there. One for an equipment situation and the other because I needed to get wrapped.”
Yafai couldn’t brag on his departing senior enough.
“First and foremost Bobby is the nicest kid you ever want to meet. And as a football player he gives his all every play,” Yafai said. “There’s not a harder worker on the team and his durability is nothing short of impressive. And he’s all about team. He’ll go anywhere you ask him to play and give his all at that position.”
This nose guard, center, defensive end, do-it-all player is simply the Best – Bobby Best.
Most Valuable Player
Jordan Casas, Palma (QB)
Most Valuable Offensive Player
Karson Klauer, San Benito (QB)
Most Valuable Defensive Player
Eric Sobotka, Palma (LB)
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman
Bobby Best, Gilroy (C/DE)
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman
Vinny Sardam, San Benito (NG)
Utility Player
Dustin Muhn, Live Oak (P/RB/DB/KR)
Gilroy T-CAL All-League
First Team
Bobby Best (C/DE), Sr.
Justin Sweeney (RB), Sr.
Taylor Micali (LB), Sr.
Steven Quistian (TE), Sr.
Second Team
Carlos Estrada (OL/DL), Jr.
Neil Martin (K/P), Sr.
Vince Giacalone (LB), Jr.
Matt Hunkin (OL), Sr.
Honorable Mention
Stefon McCrimon (FB), Sr.
Marcus Muñoz (NG), Sr.
Jose Romero (SS), Sr.
Andrew Ojeda (DE), Sr.