Mustangs top Acorns to end frustrating season for both teams
They both had no chance of making the playoffs and nothing to
lose. So when Tri-County Athletic League football rivals Live Oak
and Gilroy High squared off in the season-finale last Friday night
at Mustang Stadium, both teams tossed the conservative playbook out
the window and let it fly.
Mustangs top Acorns to end frustrating season for both teams
They both had no chance of making the playoffs and nothing to lose. So when Tri-County Athletic League football rivals Live Oak and Gilroy High squared off in the season-finale last Friday night at Mustang Stadium, both teams tossed the conservative playbook out the window and let it fly.
When the dust settled, the Mustangs won the battle to get out of the basement in the league’s standing’s sheet by defeating the Acorns by 28-18.
Gilroy finished the year with a record of 2-8, while Live Oak managed to muster a hapless 0-9-1 effort.
For both schools and their coaches, the 2002 season was a tough pill to swallow.
Back in August, Live Oak, a perennial powerhouse in the league during the 1980s and ’90s, was looking to get back to the post-season form for the first time since 2000.
Gilroy was looking to make a third consecutive appearance in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
But as the season wore on, both schools were hampered by key injuries. In addition, Gilroy lost players for academic reasons and Live Oak was undersized from the word go.
Last Friday night, however, records, stats and injuries were meaningless as both schools fought hard to the final buzzer in a game that included just about every trick in the playbook.
“It was nice to finish on a positive note,” said Gilroy Coach Darren Yafai. “And even though it was a tough year for us, we had a lot of fun out there.”
The Mustangs’ win over the Acorns was the school’s third consecutive victory over their archrivals to the north.
“It was kind of nice,” said Yafai. “They had our number in the 1990s, but things go in cycles.”
On Friday night, the Acorns were first to make their way to the promised land when Daniel Salinas burst into the end zone on a two-yard run.
Gilroy jumped out on top for good, however, when quarterback Ben Hemeon hooked up with Johnny Kirkish on a 25-yard strike.
The touchdown was set up when Hemeon faked a screen and hit Kirkish at full stride down the right sideline.
“The screen action worked well,” said Yafai. “When they bit on it, we had an opportunity down the sideline.”
With the score 7-6 in favor of Gilroy, the Mustangs tacked on another seven points when Hemeon, who finished the night 13 of 16 for 157 yards and four touchdowns, hooked up with Greg Lucio on a 15-yard fade route in the corner of the end zone that made the score 14-6.
“That was the best night Ben (Hemeon) had all year,” said Yafai.
With the score 14-6, the Acorns were able to keep things close when Salinas took a 69-yard screen pass and ran it in for a touchdown.
With the score 14-12 and 40 seconds remaining before the half, Live Oak successfully completed an on-side kick. It all went for naught though when Acorn place-kicker Miquel Ayala missed a 23-yarder that would have made the score 15-14.
At the half, it was Scott Martin’s extra points that made the difference for the Mustangs.
In the third quarter, Gilroy opened things up a bit when Hemeon connected with Ryan Reynaud on a four-yard pass play.
The Mustangs capped off their scoring on the night when Kirkish caught a 15-yard pass from Hemeon in the corner of the end zone, which made the score 28-12.
“That catch by Kirkish was one of the best I’ve seen all year,” said an elated Yafai.
Kirkish had to dive and caught the ball over his outside shoulder in the back corner of the end zone.
Live Oak cut the lead to 28-18 in the fourth quarter when Orin Catrett found Steven Conner on a 12-yard pass play.
Live Oak went for the two-point conversion after each score and missed each time.
For the night, Catrett had 229 yards-140 of them courtesy of Conner.
“Gilroy hit on a couple of big plays when they needed them,” said Live Oak Coach Glen Webb, who had high expectations for his 2002 squad. “It was a rough go for us this year. But we never had anyone quit the team and they never gave up all season. That is a credit to our character.”
Although it’s too early to really tell, both Yafai and Webb will be looking to rebound next season.
Live Oak’s junior varsity team had a record of 5-5 and looked promising at times. Gilroy’s JV team was 6-4.
In addition to solid rosters at the lower levels, the Mustangs will have junior Melvin Bryant back next season. Against the Acorns, Bryant racked up 157 yards rushing and caught two passes-despite playing in a cast.
“After going 7-3 the last two season and making the playoffs, we feel like this was a step back for us,” said Yafai. “But we’re glad to end on a high note. But when you look at our schedule, five of the teams that we faced had a combined record of 43-5-1.”
During the season, the Mustangs played San Lorenzo Valley (10-0), Terra Nova (10-0), Salinas (9-1), Palma (9-1) and Alvarez (6-3-1).
“We’re going to work hard in the off season and get ready for next year,” said Yafai.
