Christopher Runs Wild

Alan Hoshida
South Bay SportingNews

**UPDATE** CHS VS PG HIGHLIGHT IS LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF HOME PAGE **

Two weeks ago, The Christopher High School football team put up a 50-o route of Live Oak, using a spread attack to rack up point after point. But when the Cougars opened the game Friday night against the Pacific Grove Breakers, they were playing a completely different brand of football - smash mouth, physical, old-school. Christopher ran the ball right at Pacific Grove, who surely, was planning all week on stopping QB Brandon Pickens' arm, after his 4 TD passing performance against Live Oak.





Rayshon Mills had a break out game for the Cougars accounting for 4 first have TDs - 3 rushing, 1 receiving - in the first half. All three of Mills rushing TDs were over 10 yards, 2 of them being 20 plus, ending the game with 5 carries for 59 yards and three scores. The running backs were seeing wide open running lanes because the offensive line was quick off the ball, pushing the Breakers line back, getting to the second level before the backs made their first cut. Starting runningback Nic Slater said it best, the blocks were "Amazing."

If the offensive line and their skill players were impressive, posting 34 points before the half, then the defense was on a completely different level. The Cougars' defense came into the game against Pacific Grove on a mission; they hadn't given up any points last week, this week would be no different. They were tenacious - flying to the ball, gang tackling - led by ,Linebacker, Patrick Mank, 5 tackles. Pacific Grove could not gain any momentum, gaining only one first down the entire first half. Its a sports cliche to say games are won in the trenches, but how can you ignore the type of penetration the defensive line was getting on the smaller Breaker line. The Breaker QB and Backs were under pressure every snap, many times failing to make it to the line of scrimmage.



The coaches had the players well prepared for Friday nights game, throwing a curve ball at their opponent from the getting go and never looking back. CHS defense never forced a turnover but 4 and outs are just as good, getting off the field and allowing their potent offense to run wild. Once the game looked well in hand, the Christopher High coaches looked to their bench, finding any player who didn't get playing time.

Every player on the team works hard, every player sit in the studys film, every player makes minor, or major, sacrifices to be on the squad, so it was a admiral, simple gesture when the coaches got every single athlete some deserving playing time.



Head Coach Tom Pierleoni gladly takes a back seat to his player and especially his coaches, saying he his the last person for why his team is off to a fast start ,2-1, first time in school history being over .500 (even if still young, just a two year existence). After three years with Coach Pierleoni, the athletes look poise, comfortable, confident, and physically ready for a break out season. Yearly league power, Monterey High Torreadores come into Gilroy in two weeks to test the upstart Christopher Cougars.