Gilroy High’s annual homecoming was full of fun and excitement
for everyone in attendance from the parade to the thrilling
football game on the gridiron.
Gilroy High’s annual homecoming was full of fun and excitement for everyone in attendance from the parade to the thrilling football game on the gridiron.
But what was wrong with the scoreboard? Everyone saw that Gilroy had just enough time to come from a 14-point, first-half deficit to tie Alvarez in a 14-14 thriller. However, some may have left Mustang Stadium thinking their garlic gridmen pulled off a dramatic win rather than just the tie.
With 39 seconds left, senior quarterback Ben Hemeon completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior Jared Gamm. While I have my trusty note pad to refer to, some spectators may not have realized that the TD cut the score to 14-12 and not 14-13 since the Mustangs had an extra point blocked after senior tailback Melvin Bryant’s 15-yard touchdown scamper for Gilroy’s first score in the third quarter.
That’s because the scoreboard is not working correctly and does not show the score of the home and visiting team. It only shows the elapsing time.
When Hemeon hit senior tight end Roger Ortiz on a successful two-point conversion, it tied the score at 14. The Mustangs remained unbeaten at 4-0-1 – but did not get the win.
Anyone who missed the first touchdown and failed extra point attempt because they were late arriving, or they are not a big football fan to know it is six points for a touchdown, one for an extra point, and two for a two-point conversion could not have known the significance of the Mustangs opting for the two-point conversion. Obviously, Gilroy did not have a choice. They had to go for two with only 39 seconds left and Alvarez ahead by two. But some spectators could have easily thought the Mustangs decided to go for the win rather than the tie.
Now, the scoreboard was working for the Mustangs’ opening home victory over Terra Nova – but I believe it shut off during their week-two win over Santa Cruz. When the lights were restored that game, the score was missing and only the time was on the screen.
In addition to the Mustangs playing there, Gavilan College has football games on Saturday nights and Live Oak High was forced to play out the rest of its home games in Gilroy on Saturday afternoons because of a problem with the Acorn field.
Mustang Stadium is one of the nicest fields in the section. The Central Coast Section has chosen Mustang Stadium to host several championship games – not involving a Gilroy team – because it is usually well maintained with all working parts. That has not been the case this year.
In the winter, the Gilroy High soccer teams have scheduled games inside the stadium as well. They hope to play under the lights in front of the hometown crowd with a working scoreboard.
It could be a simple fuse or a difficult job ahead – but someone has to fix the scoreboard or better yet just get a new one. I heard that scoreboard has been there forever. That would add even more prestige to playing in Mustang Stadium. Our student-athletes deserve a working scoreboard and our fans deserve to look up and see not only the time but the score of the game they are watching.
Scott Forstner, a native New Yorker, is the sports editor for The Dispatch. To respond to his column, please e-mail him at sp****@gi************.com.
