Connect with us

Football

2019 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GW GECKOS

The GW Geckos were a single overtime possession away from snatching the high school football crown away from the FD Friars in the 2018 Championship Game last season. The team has gone through a bit of a roster change since then, but the coaching staff behind Ryan Rios has proven to turn just about anyone who dawns purple and gold into a successful football player.

By Robert Balajadia

The GW Geckos were a single overtime possession away from snatching the high school football crown away from the FD Friars in the 2018 Championship Game last season. The team has gone through a bit of a roster change since then, but the coaching staff behind Ryan Rios has proven to turn just about anyone who dons purple and gold into a successful football player.

2019 is new for the Geckos in being that the teams make-up is made more of underclassmen than upper. Big losses come in the form of nose guard and part-time running back Jose San Miguel, linebacker Jon Espino, safety Aaron Jamanilla, offensive lineman Ethaniel Cali and offensive star Shelby Meeks.

Key returnees include quarterback Ricky Macias, standout cornerback Noah Quichocho and defensive leader in safety Cason Jackson as well as Aaron Toves, who plays on both sides of the ball.

KEY PLAYERS

Even with a handful of vets still ready to lead the team, the Geckos coaching staff will always find ways to produce talent and the next household name is just waiting for his time.

“It always going to start with basics. Then I get to see their demeanor, like who’s got the ‘mean streak’, who’s smarter, body motion and their reactions, all those things matter. Once I start seeing that I can start putting the puzzle together. Guys like San Miguel and Espino were all like this before and it’s just a matter of how much you can teach them,” said Rios.

The Geckos go through a lot of ‘on the job training’ throughout the season and they don’t expect that much to change. The season is going to stretch into late October and they Geckos always seem to peak at the right times.

The season is set to go down August 23rd pending any push backs. The Geckos are scheduled to face the Friars on opening night.

Safety Cason Jackson sat down for a video interview to talk about the upcoming season.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

May

June 2025

July
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Events for May

31st

No Events
Events for June

1st

No Events
Events for June

2nd

No Events
Events for June

3rd

No Events
Events for June

4th

No Events
Events for June

5th

No Events
Events for June

7th

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Events for June

8th

Events for June

8th

No Events
Events for June

9th

No Events
Events for June

10th

No Events
Events for June

11th

No Events
Events for June

12th

No Events
Events for June

14th

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Events for June

15th

Events for June

15th

No Events
Events for June

16th

No Events
Events for June

17th

No Events
Events for June

18th

No Events
Events for June

19th

No Events
Events for June

21st

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Events for June

22nd

Events for June

22nd

No Events
Events for June

23rd

No Events
Events for June

24th

No Events
Events for June

25th

No Events
Events for June

26th

No Events
Events for June

28th

29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for June

29th

Events for June

30th

COMING SOON …

Guam National Bodybuilding Championship June 21

FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18

Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9

 

QUICK HITS

Guam Blooded: Ethan Toves Maddies has signed to play D1 baseball for the College of The Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts on a full ride scholarship.
He is the son of proud parents Macky and Yvette Toves Maddies of Los Alamitos, California, grandson of Juan and Maria Toves+ formerly of Ordot/Barrigada Guam and Godson of Anthony and AnnMarie Toves of Ordot, Guam.

————————————————–

The JFK Islanders won the first ever Memorial Weekend High School Basketball Tournament.

The All-Tournament selection were Zhion Macapinlac JFK, Darwin Ecijan JFK, Matthew Quinata Southern, and Malcom Fernandez Tiyan.

JFK’s Collin Rillamas was named tournament MVP.

More in Football