Alan Hoshida
South Bay SportingNews
Christopher High won a game without even taking the field during their bye week, but that wasn't the most successful part of the week. The Cougars improved to 4-0 on the season after a player for Sobrato (Morgan Hill, Ca) was proven ineligible, unfortunately. In prep sports no one wants to win a game because of academic ineligibility, but CHS will take it. So in the bye week while they were preparing for what was going to be a litmus test against Monterey, they had gained some momentum. The default win wasn't what Coach Pierleoni was stressing to his players, it was about repetition. The extra week gave the Cougars defense more time to rep against the veer option offense that Monterey runs.
Monterey Toreadors are coming off a very success campaign in 2010, losing only two games, capturing the Monterey Bay League title, making it all the way to the CCS Division three championships. Christopher knew this game was going to measure just how far they had actually come in this undefeated season; they'd beaten good teams but Monterey is always a power within their league.
During warm ups there was a silent calm, focus showing from the Cougars side, it was all business. This game meant something.
Monterey got off to a quick start, going up 7-0, after capitalizing on an opening drive fumble the Cougars, but that is where the Toreadors advantage stopped. Christopher showed that they were a veteran bunch, staying calm and poised, scoring 37 points unanswered points. Brandon Picckens, Christopher High QB, threw for 4 touchdowns, 300 yards, more importantly no interceptions. CHS won the game 37-7
The Toreadors are not they same team that ran through the MBL last season, losing 10+ seniors to graduation. Three of those seniors were stars at three of the skills positions - QB, RB, WR. Last year, John Wyatt-Williams, the Toreadors star RB, had over 2300 yards and 27 scores, while the guy hand it to him, Stephen Ventimilia had a total of 27 TD (14 throwing, 13 rushing). Wyatt-Williams and Ventimilia accounted for over 54 touchdowns, a little over 250 pts.
Monterey lost some vital players but Monterey has always been able to replace those players with other athletes who step up year after year, so its not unreasonable to believe that the 2011 Toreadors wouldn't do the same. But when you looked up at the scoreboard there was evidence that Christopher was sending a message to the entire MBL - "We aren't the same team as last year either."
The offense was passing all over the Toreador defense but it was the Cougar defense that allowed its team to beat the defending MBL champs. The Toreadors ran the ball and ran the ball even being down large; the veer option offense is build to come back from big deficits. Its a ground and pound, unlike a quick strike spread offense. In addition it seemed like anytime QB, Jimmy Hill dropped back to back he was intercepted. CHS picked off Hill three times, including an interception by MIkey Pirnik that was momentum changer.
Two way players Marcus Harrell and Nick Slater elaborates on why their defense seemed to stop the Toreador offense handily. Harrell was a game changer on offense and defense - 8 catches, 173 yds, 2 TDs, 1 Int, 1 backed ball (leading to another Int).
After three years in the same system, Christopher had made strides on the football field. After beating the defending MBL league champs, they will have more a target on their back; the Cougars might not be able to sneak up on teams anymore but that doesn't seem to the bother the players or coaches. The Monterey win will get an undefeated CHS team some respect and acknowledgement that each player and coach is looking for.
*UPDATE* Christopher High kept their undefeated season going beating Pajaro Valley in Watsonville over the weekend, 34-7.
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