SAN JOSE — Gunderson envisioned a season like this at the outset of 2024. But that doesn’t make it any less special.
The Grizzlies are going to the CCS playoffs for the first time since 2016 after defeating San Jose High 47-10, and the celebration has already begun across the Gunderson community.
“Man. It’s a long time coming,” said Gunderson coach Jason Harrison, also an alumnus of the school. “We trained so hard. Right after last season, we got in the weight room. There was no hesitation. It showed. Our linemen are bigger, faster, stronger. Our running backs are bigger, faster, stronger. Our receivers are bigger, faster, stronger, breaking tackles. And it’s a testament, man, hard work pays off.”
The Grizzlies (7-3, 6-0) finished off a perfect season in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s West Valley Division, locking up the league’s lone spot in the CCS bracket.
“It was a dream season,” said Gunderson junior quarterback Andrew Fernandez, who tossed five touchdown passes. “We haven’t gone to the playoffs in really long time. We haven’t won league in a really long time. So this means everything to us.”
The last time Gunderson made the playoffs, Fernandez was in third grade. The Grizzlies are certainly pleased with who he’s grown up to be for their program.
“He takes a lot of stuff from me,” Harrison said. “I get on him. From freshman year, the maturity that he’s showing this season, from getting injured and being down on himself to coming back and playing the way he’s been playing, I love Drew, man. He’s done great things for us, and he’s gonna do great things for us next week in the CCS playoffs.”
Gunderson got the scoring started with a 14-yard run by Jason Stoner, and then it was time for the Fernandez show.
Fernandez’s full TD accounting? An 82-yard screen to Luis Valdespino, a 14-yard middle-field strike to Jayden Wallace, a 24-yard bolt over the middle to Valdespino, a 23-yard go ball to Valdespino and a feathered 31-yard fade to Greg Darling Jr. in the corner of the end zone.
“It’s working,” Fernandez said of Harrison’s hard coaching. “Since freshman year, he’s been really hard on me, and it built me up as a player. It gave me character. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for coach Harrison. I love coach.”
San Jose (3-7, 2-4) put points on the board right before the half, as Dami Garcia split the uprights for a 41-yard field goal. The Bulldogs later added a touchdown on a 2-yard run by Bryan Santos.
Gunderson finished off the scoring with a late pick-six by Jordan Avila.
“They’re a well-coached team. They were hungrier today,” said San Jose coach Raul Sandoval. “They were hungrier than we were. We came out strong. They just had the better outcome than we did.
“We knew from the beginning of the season it was going to be a tough task when we faced Gunderson. I knew that team. I know that coach very well, too, and he’s a tough cookie to crack. They’ve a very talented team, very young team as well, so they’ve got a bright future ahead of them.”
Gunderson has been playing the majority of this season for assistant coach Chris Ruane, who died of cancer in September. As the Grizzlies donned their league championship T-shirts after the game, a certain hashtag stood out on the back.
“We’re doing this for him,” Fernandez said. “It’s the best feeling ever. We haven’t done this in a really long time, and I’m pretty sure he’s looking down proud of us. We wish he was here.”
“Man, I wish he was here with us,” Harrison said. “We talk about coach Chris every day at practice. Before a game, we say a prayer and we mention coach Chris. What would coach Chris do? And he’d be very excited and happy for these boys tonight.”
Gunderson had not gone undefeated in league play in the MaxPreps era (since 2004) and had not beaten Oak Grove – a current BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division team – in that timeframe as well. The Grizzlies did both this year, and they’re still not done making history.
“We’re not an ordinary team. We’re like a brotherhood,” Fernandez said. “And no matter the win or loss, we’re going to stick together.”
