GILROY
– This time, John Lango has the horses. This season, his fourth
at the helm of the Gavilan College Rams football program, he has
the numbers necessary to take on some of the challenges of a Coast
Conference four-game adventure tucked at the end of a 10-game
relentless schedule.
GILROY – This time, John Lango has the horses. This season, his fourth at the helm of the Gavilan College Rams football program, he has the numbers necessary to take on some of the challenges of a Coast Conference four-game adventure tucked at the end of a 10-game relentless schedule.
Co-defensive team captain Cameron Shutts quickly agreed prior to a practice at Brownell School last week.
“Last year, when we set up for practice, I’d see four rows of players warming up. This year, there’s six rows of players. That’s 20 more guys and I see 20 times the talent this year.”
Lango, who also directed the Gilroy High football program last decade, may not be ready to put a number on the talent level the Rams put on the field this fall. He does know, as is the custom of a head football coach, to offer that “I expect to do better than last year.”
The Rams do have a few returning starters. That may be one of the most telling statistics when analyzing the new Ram product, because the potential new-and-improved Gavilan squad will count heavily on new faces with a new outlook on turning the Rams into winners for the first time in many seasons.
The Rams do return the same schedule as last year, although the home team has changed each week. Gavilan netted two wins in the six-game pre-conference slate, then went 2-2 in the conference.
Gavilan gave up at least 49 points in three of the pre-conference games. Lango is eager to turn his new defensive unit against his foes in the early season, with a goal of being ready to withstand the high-powered offenses making up the entire Coast Confernence line-up.
Lango termed his new team “more athletic overall, especially on defense, with more team speed. We’re a little bigger too. From the practices, we seem to be pretty smart in terms of knowing coverages and our blitz packages. That’ll allow us to go after them right away.”
The Ram defense will be loaded with linebackers, quick on the line despite being low in numbers, and improved greatly in the secondary.
To offset the limited number of players practicing on the defensive line, Lango moved Willie Gamboa from linebacker to defensive end. The former Gilroy High linebacker has added 15 pounds, will play at 230 and “is great off the edge,” Lango said of the speedy sophomore.
Inside in the four-man line, Lango looks to transfer Josh Visperas (5-9, 250) and Roy Sims (6-5, 275) to anchor the front. Visperas, at Gavilan since the spring semester, was an honorable mention all-conference player with San Jose City in 2002. Sims, a San Benito High graduate two years ago, is “strong and fast, a five-flat 40,” according to Lango.
Brian Hernandez, joining Shutts at defensive captain, leads the linebacking group. The former Live Oak Acorn, a 5-11, 205-pounder, was among the team leaders in tackles for losses in 2002.
Four potential starters will compete for the other two linebacker jobs. Bradley Niles, a 6-2, 220-pounder from Piedmont Hills High, has shown promise for the middle ‘backer job. Gustavo Valdovinos of Yerba Buena, Eric Williams from Independence and Janall Arthur of Milpitas High are battling from the wide-side linebacker post.
Shutts is the team leader from his free safety spot. Arnold Rivera, like Shutts a Hollister product, and T.J. Monroe of Piedmont Hills will handle the strong safety chores.
J.R. Richmond, a returning starter out of Gilroy, gives experience to the cornerback position. Eddie Sumpter from Homestead High, Otis Jones from Piedmont Hills and Justin Cabana give exceptional depth to the corner this season.
Gavilan College may have set a school record this fall with four quarterbacks practicing under the direction of offensive coordinator Dan Oswald.
Only one, Patrick Ames, has been with the program since the spring semester. Gavilan lost both quarterbacks from last fall, Ajene Palmer transferring after a sophomore season and freshman Russell Schafer off to begin a mission.
Ames, a 6-2, 210-pounder who redshirted at West Valley in 2002, has learned the system because of the extra time within the program. Ames will be pressed by Nick Buzzetta, the “most athletic” of the quarterbacks according to Lango. “Nick has a very good arm, he’s coming along pretty good.”
The Rams can also count on solid quarterbacking from Brandon Zertuche from Lincoln High and Will Kilday, both 6-foot-2.
Lango welcomes back one running back, A.J. Garcia. The North County grad had a season-best 64 yards on 16 carries against College of San Mateo. El Ray Henry, who rushed for 1700 yards for Yerba Buena, and Gilroy’s Robert Orlando will battle for the starter’s role in the one-back offense.
Ted Mason, an all-conference wide-out for San Jose City last fall, will lead a talented receiver group for the Rams. “He’s extremely good,” said Lango of the 6-2, 185-pound team co-captain. “Great hands, speed, good leadership – you name it.”
Guy Blightman, another Piedmont Hills grad, and A.J. Garbin may handle the other wide-out positions. Will Lawrence, fresh from a 24-grab season, is back for another season as the Gavilan tight end. The Gilroy High grad is 15 pounds heavier, although “he’ll match up on a linebacker and outrun him” according to Lango.
The Rams have one returning player from the offensive line, tackle and co-catain Ken Vacarrezza. The 6-2, 315-pounder will man one tackle spot.
John Conroy, a letterman from last year’s team, will compete for one guard assignment. Mark Torres, from Gilroy, Clay Peer and Cal Doty of Hollister, and Grant Marcy from Sacramento are involved in the offensive line plans.
“I like the pre-conference schedule, a chance to play these teams again,” Lango said. “I won’t make any predictions, but the players working right now give me a lot of confidence this season.”
