Gavilan headed to Santa Rosa for bowl game
Janall Arthur, Roy Sims, El Ray Henry, Ken Peer, Tyrone Monroe and a dozen other sophomores will complete their community college gridiron careers with a second consecutive bowl appearance for Gavilan College.
That distinction was earned Saturday night when the Rams whitewashed the San Jose City College Jaguars 24-0 at Mustang Stadium.
The win included another stellar performance by the state’s top-rated defense as the Rams limited the visitors to 71 yards on 56 plays. The defensive unit earned another banner to be raised inside Bud Ottmar Memorial Gymnasium by leading California in total defense from wire to wire.
In addition to completing the season with a 6-4 mark and 3-2 Coast Conference log, Gavilan was invited to the CLO Bowl, to be held on Saturday Dec. 4 at 1pm against the host Santa Rosa team.
Henry treated the home crowd to a typical rushing effort, blazing to 127 yards by halftime and finishing with 136 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.
The sophomore completed the regular season with 1,007 yards, just the 10th 1,000-yard season in the 42-year history of the program. Henry also went for 1,067 yards in 2003 and trails only All-American Alonzo Washington’s 3,565 yards in career Ram rushing with his 2,074 total.
The sophomore-dotted defensive unit made the Jaguars’ plight difficult. Sims, Arthur and gritty linebacker Eric Williams recorded sacks. Monroe and fellow safety Cameron Shutts helped limit San Jose City to six pass completions on 29 tries. San Jose was forced into 13 punts.
Center Peer and the improving Ram offensive line protected the Gavilan passers all night, never allowing a sack.
Gavilan did fall short in one statistic, having double-digit penalties for the first time this season. The seven major penalties provided a new mark for the campaign.
Gavilan needed less than three minutes to produce all the points necessary to out-score San Jose City.
Ram defensive lineman Mike Lango recovered a Jaguar fumble two plays into action to set up Gavilan on the enemy 32. Quarterback Will Kilday directed a swift five-play drive in 82 seconds. Henry scattered four unsuccessful tacklers in his midst on the way to a 14-yard rip off right tackle for the touchdown with 12:46 left in the first quarter. Steady place-kicker Horacio Arteaga nailed the extra point for the 7-0 cushion.
Gavilan finished the half with a 17-0 lead.
San Jose flubbed its best opportunity to score after recovering a fumble at the Ram 14. A Williams eight-yard sack led to an unsuccessful field goal bid by Jaguar Jason Hinkin from 33 yards.
Gavilan went 80 yards in seven plays for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Kilday keyed the drive with a 14-yard slant pass to Steven Conner on fourth down at the Jaguar 45. Halfback Melvin Bryant connected with Shane Butcher on a 14-yard pitch-pass play for the touchdown with 14:01 left until halftime.
Arteaga drilled a 22-yard field goal with 41.4 seconds left in the half.
Gavilan completed the scoring by finishing off the team’s second possession of the second half in the end zone. Kilday found an unmarked Daniel Salinas in the left flat for a 30-yard TD pass with 9:57 to play in the third quarter.
Gavilan finished with a 371-71 advantage in total offense. Kilday went 9-for-26 for 134 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Rhett Van De Mark was 4-for-11 for 62 yards.
Monterey Peninsula College (50-38 over Hartnell) completed the Coast Conference action with a 5-0 mark, leaving Gavilan, Cabrillo and Hartnell in a tie for second at 3-2.
