Spartans rise: How Gonzales football made history in 2018
While driving past the Gonzales City Limit sign heading south on Highway 101, “Gonzales High Stadium” embossed in big white letters greets drivers to the right of the freeway.
This fall, that stadium has been bustling for the first time in decades. Community members and alumni alike have come out to support the Spartans football team for good reason.
Thanks to the work of a first-time head coach and a class of outstanding seniors, Gonzales football set school records in its best season this century: The first undefeated regular season in school history. The first playoff win since 1996, years before current Spartans players were born. The first win against Pacific Grove in 15 years and a win against Soledad for the first time in nearly a decade.
They also proved that, once again, the Spartans are a force to be reckoned with.
Restoring tradition
Well before many of its current players were born, Gonzales was a public school power in the 1970s. Coach Larry Welsh led the Spartans to six Mission Trail Athletic League (MTAL) titles in his 10 years at the helm of the program.
Decades later, the Spartans were competing in the CCS playoffs and hanging tough with the likes of Palma in the 1990s.
For second-year head coach Art Berlanga, that tradition was one of the biggest appeals in taking his first head coaching job.
“The history, culture and the type of program that they ran in the 1990s when I was growing up was top-notch,” he said.
Berlanga spent years with his brother, Frankie, rebuilding the Soledad program at the south end of the CCS governing area. With Frankie as head coach, the Aztecs made the playoffs for the first time in school history and won the school’s first CCS title in 2016.
On the heels of that 2016 season, Berlanga joined the Gonzales program in August 2017. That’s late for a new coach to sign on and establish a culture but the Spartans improved from 1–9 to 3–7, including three wins in the final four games.
“I know what it takes to build a program from working (at Soledad),” he said. “But the buy-in from the kids was so instant that it took a lot of the challenges and uphill battles out. It was just teaching them football.”
Berlanga knew the talent was there for even better things. It started in pre-season camps.
“We had an offseason program and really put the time in to learn and improve strength, speed, conditioning,” he said. “I knew if we could get an offseason of improvement from the players, we could have a great season.”
A great offseason helps create a foundation. The quick buy-in from the players sped up the improvements and, with the way Berlanga interacts with the players, is no surprise.
Take a look at Berlanga’s Twitter feed and you see daily addresses to his “young Spartans.” Words of inspiration, quotes to remember and reminders of conduct or appreciation populate his timeline.
“I don’t care the outcome is tonight: win or lose,” he wrote before Gonzales’ 54–49 win over Saratoga in the CCS Division V opening round. “What we’ve been through together will last a lifetime. I’m so very proud & honored to be your coach. It’s about us (and) only us, for I know your hearts as you know mine.”
That love for his players brings out the best in them. Berlanga earned Pacific Coast Athletic League (PCAL) — Santa Lucia Division Coach of the Year thanks to his leadership and a spectacular class of seniors on the field this fall.
A record-breaking class
Many seniors suiting up for the Spartans this fall know how far this program has come in a matter of two years.
Standout defensive lineman Pablo Villasenor is in his third year on the varsity team and has seen the Spartans rise from 1–9 in 2016 to 11–0 in 2018.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “Coach Berlanga really (motivates) us and we play really hard for him.”
Villasenor’s an imposing presence in the middle of the defensive line and earned all-league honors as a junior last season. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior fills gaps in the middle to power a Spartan unit that allowed just nine points per game in the regular season.
That stifling defense helps put the Spartans in a position to succeed. But on the other side of the ball, something special’s occurred this fall.
Watch any film of a Spartans game and when the offense is on the field, there’s one player that stands out among everyone else: no. 3.
Seeing running back Payton Flores is like watching the Road Runner escape 11 hapless Wile E. Coyotes. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Flores set a school record in rushing yards this season with 2,344 and averages a first down every time he touches the ball.
“I wanted 2,000 yards and with it the school record,” he said of the rushing record. “I felt I could do it.”
Via maxpreps.com, Flores’ 2,344 yards rushing puts him eighth in California among qualifying running backs. He’s a scoring machine, too; the speedster’s scored 30 touchdowns, eight of which were 40 yards or longer.
“The speed work I put in in the offseason helped me,” he said. “And my agility.”
Quarterback Raul Morales keeps the offense humming as well with defenses cheating up to stop the run. The senior’s completed 70 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns as the offense has run over opponents to the tune of 45 points per game.
Bringing a community together
To get to the Spartans’ stadium, you have to drive or walk through two blocks of Gonzales community.
For the city of 8,500, the football team is one of the main attractions on a cool Friday night.
“I think it’s something that this town and the alumni have been waiting for for a long time,” Berlanga said. “They’re extremely proud and supportive of these guys as they should be.”
The Spartans face a tough Carmel team Saturday night at Monterey Peninsula College at 7 p.m. in the CCS Division V semifinals. The Padres have a similarly prolific offense and will be the toughest test for Berlanga and company all season.
Regardless of the outcome, 2018 has been a historic year for the team and shows how the Spartans have returned to football prominence.
“These kids have restored the pride not only in the school but the community, too,” Berlanga said. “It’s a testament to the work they put in.”
Originally published at www.thecalifornian.com on November 23, 2018.
