BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — It’s impossible to spell offense without the letter ‘O.’ The same rule applies for the word ‘Patriots,’ for that matter.
In 10 seasons, coach David Gilpin has operated an offense heavy on yards and points. No other team in the Valley scores as many points (400) or accumulated as many yards (562.7 yards/game) than the Mission Veterans Patriots this season.
But what the Patriots’ offense pulled off during its 69-21 thrashing of Victoria East in a Class 5A DI Bi-District game Friday at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium was nothing short of spectacular.
In the second quarter, Mission Veterans (10-1) scored five touchdowns on five possessions. Every score came via senior quarterback Landry Gilpin, who threw his touchdowns to three different receivers.
“In that (second) quarter? Probably no,” David Gilpin said when asked if he had seen an offense he coached perform at that level. “Just, wow. I told our kids that words can’t do justice the way they played tonight. It was all about their mindset. These kids were on point. They did whatever they wanted to against a good football team. Given the right circumstances, the right opportunities and the right set of players, sometimes, there’s a chance to do something special. If we can perform the way we performed tonight mentally, we’re going to be a tough out. If somebody beats us, they better be a lot better than us. If they’re only a little bit better than us, we’re going to find a way to win.”
Gilpin finished the night with six touchdown passes and two more on the ground.
“We haven’t done anything like this, given the magnitude of a playoff game,” Landry Gilpin said. “The coaches come to us at the end of each quarter and readjust us. They had the receivers focused and our offensive line focused because they dominated tonight.”
Though the final score might indicate a beating from start to finish, Victoria East (5-6) had its opportunities. The Titans recovered the opening kickoff after the Patriots muffed it, moved the ball inside the Mission Veterans 25-yard line and turned the ball over on downs.
Victoria East shanked a punt that went less than 15 yards, allowing Mission Veterans defensive back/return specialist Gus Garza to juke his way to a touchdown on the return. Titan kicker Omar Garza also missed two field goals in the first quarter.
Receivers Leo Cantu and Mikey Garcia caught two touchdowns apiece, as did senior Ralph Ochoa. Ochoa is one of the unheralded and beloved players on his team. His teammates roared his name after polishing off one of the best games of his career.
“This is a big brotherhood and we all love each other equally,” Ochoa said. “We lay everything out on the line for each other. You have to think of everything from the team’s perspective. My team needs my individual effort, so you can’t be selfish with it. You have lay it out there for your brother, so that he knows that he can be successful as well.”
“Ralph has done everything right for four years,” David Gilpin said. “He’s had some great slot receivers in front of him like Mikey Garcia, Roman De Leon, Buda Gonzalez and Bobby Tovar. Ralph might not be able to take a play 80 yards like Mikey can do, but he can provide a block that can get us an 80-yard play to help us score. That’s the kind of kid he is. Unselfish, tough as nails and will give you every ounce of ability that he has.”
“He comes in and he does what he needs to do,” Landry Gilpin said. “He shows up to every practice. He never complains. He just does his job. It’s awesome to see him get two playoff touchdowns.”