Editor’s note: Gilroy Dispatch sports editor Marc David and
Hollister Free Lance sports editor Jimmy Durkin have decided to
spice things up for the Prune Bowl. David is betting five pounds of
garlic on Gilroy. Durkin is betting a bale of hay on San
Benito.
Editor’s note: Gilroy Dispatch sports editor Marc David and Hollister Free Lance sports editor Jimmy Durkin have decided to spice things up for the Prune Bowl. David is betting five pounds of garlic on Gilroy. Durkin is betting a bale of hay on San Benito.
David: So what am I going to do with a bale of hay, Jimmy? I live in an apartment complex. Gilroy hasn’t put together four quarters this season but the Mustangs are ready. This is their break-out game.
Durkin: Don’t you need some new furniture for that apartment? Turn that bale of hay into a new bed. San Benito may have slumped offensively last week, but don’t count on that again. The ‘Balers will come to play.
David: The Mustangs are chomping at the bit for this game. They will treat this as their playoff game. They have been dominant at times this season against some of the better TCAL teams. Just ask Palma, which had one first down and 65 yards of total offense in the second half against Gilroy. Or North Salinas, which had zero first downs and 39 yards in the first half.
Durkin: Well, they better treat this as a playoff game because it’s the closest they’re going to come to the postseason this year. And dominant against Palma? Is that the same Oakland Raiders’ type of dominance where the offense doesn’t score? Defense can be a key – trust me, if it weren’t for San Benito’s defense it would’ve lost last week – but if the offense can’t get going, then you’re not going to win.
DAVID: Listen, everyone knows San Benito plays good defense. But, please, six points against Salinas? Gilroy hung 22 on the Cowboys — in the second half. So don’t tell me the Mustangs can’t score. 36 against Salinas was 30 more than the ‘Balers scored. And Gilroy just hung 35 points on North Salinas. So don’t tell anyone Gilroy can’t score. You’ve been sniffing too much garlic.
Durkin: Do you want a cookie for scoring 35 against a North Salinas team that only has wins over Greenfield (who?) and winless Alvarez? Call me when Gilroy beats a team with a winning record. I won’t have to worry about cell phone minutes because it won’t be until next year. The Mustangs can score against the lower rung teams, but against the top four teams they’ve faced, they have a total of 24 points. Go nibble on some hay!
DAVID: So we’re talking schedule now. I wonder how San Benito would have fared if it had faced Serra and Oak Grove. Or are you trying to tell me that Aptos and San Lorenzo Valley are better. The Mustangs are battle tested and ready to take out their frustration against a good team, which San Benito is. It’s going to be a long walk across the field with that trophy.
Durkin: The long walk is going to be when Gilroy makes its way to Hollister to come look at that trophy. Look, but don’t touch. On the schedule topic, have you ever heard of a tune-up game? Programs like San Benito pick teams to play in tune-ups games, Gilroy gets picked to be a tune-up game. San Benito has a bit of frustration to take out too after last week and you can bet the ‘Balers want another home game and they need another win to improve their chances of getting one.
DAVID: Glad you agree with me on that, Jimmy. San Benito gets to fatten up on inferior teams in tune-up games while Gilroy, “the opponent,” sharpens its resume and toughens itself. We wouldn’t even be having this argument if the Mustangs hadn’t laid an egg in the second half against Alisal. Mark my words. Gilroy will be ready and my fridge will still be bulging with garlic Friday morning. But enough rhetoric. Let’s get it on.
Durkin: Man, I was going to be nice and not mention that Alisal game. But if you’re going to bring it up … How can a battle-tested team fall apart like that? Gilroy may be ready, but San Benito is going to be too focused and too tough to allow that trophy to slip out of its hands. While that bale of hay might do a bit to spruce up the city of Gilroy, we’ll keep it where it belongs – in Hollister. I’m tired of writing. When’s kickoff?
DAVID: I think everyone is ready for action. Gonzales-Lango. Sanchez-Cantu. Vegas-Fhurong. Blake-Giacalone. And more memories for two close-knit communities. Sounds like a winning proposition to me.
