Practices have provided the most competition Gilroy High
football has seen in weeks.
Outscoring its past four opponents 217-23, Mustangs coach Rich
Hammond hasn’t held this truth back from his team, which is
7-0.
If anything, Hammond has been in each player’s face, loud enough
to make sure the message is relayed. Why? Because the schedule just
got a whole lot tougher tonight at 7:30 p.m. when Gilroy faces the
Palma Chieftains (6-1) at Salinas Sports Complex for a game that is
likely to decide the winner of the Tri-County Athletic League.
SALINAS – Practices have provided the most competition Gilroy High football has seen in weeks.
Outscoring its past four opponents 217-23, Mustangs coach Rich Hammond hasn’t held this truth back from his team, which is 7-0.
If anything, Hammond has been in each player’s face, loud enough to make sure the message is relayed. Why? Because the schedule just got a whole lot tougher tonight at 7:30 p.m. when Gilroy faces the Palma Chieftains (6-1) at Salinas Sports Complex for a game that is likely to decide the winner of the Tri-County Athletic League.
“It’s extremely exciting,” Hammond said about facing Palma. “This is why we put in all the time and hard work.”
The Chieftains and Mustangs are both 3-0 in league, with Palma already holding a win over second place North Salinas (6-1 overall, 2-1 TCAL). The Mustangs face the Vikings next week, but a loss tonight would give Palma the edge because of the head-to-head matchups acting as a tiebreaker.
In their meeting last season, Gilroy beat the Chieftains 35-14 before going on to play in the Central Coast Section Open Division championship. The game was close into the third quarter until the Mustangs’ depth, amplified by platooning players on offense and defense, began to take effect.
A similar situation could occur this year as Hammond noted that seven players see time on both sides of the ball for Palma. Gilroy continues to platoon its players with an athlete occasionally switching sides.
The Mustangs are averaging more than a point per minute (48.1 PPG), while the defense is allowing less than 10 per contest. Palma, which lost its only game 34-33 on a last-second touchdown to Cardinal Newman, is scoring just under 33 points per game, and other than the Week 3 loss it hasn’t allowed an opponent to eclipse 14 points.
David Fales and Jamie Jensen will be calling the shots at quarterback for Palma and Gilroy, respectively, and both have a variety of weapons to choose from.
Fales’ main target is Bret Chernetsky (26 catches, 480 yards, 6 touchdowns), while Justin Olivarria handles the rushing load (756 yards) and has scored a team-high 11 touchdowns. Junior scatback Bruce Taylor could be also be a factor.
“[Olivarria] is a good player and he gives us the opportunity to run the football,” Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said. “Say what you will about the two passers, but I think both teams are going to try and establish the run. We will. We’re going to go out there and establish that run and it will open up our passing game a little more.”
Gilroy’s defense did allow over 300 yards rushing to Alisal in a 60-14 win last week, but Hammond believes it was an aberration.
“I don’t know if it’s as much you have to correct this thing, or if we just had a bad game,” he said. “We can give up 300, 400 yards, and if we only give up 14 points, that’s OK.”
Olivarria is questionable after taking a big hit against North Salinas. He missed part of the second half but Carnazzo said he thinks Olivarria will play. Gilroy has its own injuries, as senior Sean Hale (587 total yards, 9 touchdowns) left the Alisal game after pulling up gimpy in the second half. It’s unclear if Hale will be able to play.
Gilroy receiver Dante Fullard is likely to see plenty of passes and double teams after catching 41 balls for 825 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lelan Gettys, Peter Guenther and Steven Martinez are also vertical threats.
Regardless of who fills the shoes of players on both sides, Hammond thinks Palma provides Gilroy its toughest task to date, but not a challenge so steep it can’t be overcome.
“We can say this is the key or that is the key, but if we show up and play our best football, I think we win,” he said.
