It was as if Gavilan played two completely different games against Contra Costa Saturday.
Contra Costa struck for 41 points in the final 36 minutes of play to pull out a 44-32 victory over the visiting Gavilan. The loss dropped the Rams to 0-3 in non-conference play.
Gavilan fashioned a 19-3 lead by the middle of the second quarter, only to see the Comets strike for two touchdowns in an eight-second span to slice the deficit to three points.
“A tale of two halves,” acknowledged Ram coach Spencer Gilford. “The first half, we had one of the top teams in the state on the run.”
The Rams went into intermission with a 26-16 lead, but the Comets outscored the Rams 28-6 in the second half.
“(Contra Costa) is a really good football team,” said Gilford. “I’m proud of our guys. They fought to the end. There definitely were some bright spots.”
The Rams took the opening kickoff and covered 69 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead. Nate Ellis was 3 for 3 on the drive, including a 24-yard toss to Jakari Johnson on third and 10.
Dexter Braziel gave his best performance of the young season, reversing the field to go 10 yards for a touchdown with 11:46 to play in the first quarter.
“Dexter was physical and showed some speed,” said Gilford of the freshman tailback. Braziel, 10 carries for 45 yards, added a two-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter to earn the Rams a 19-3 cushion.
Contra Costa managed its first touchdown with 5:28 left in the first half on a 33-yard TD pass from Malik Watson to Phadrae White. An Ellis swing pass was intercepted by defensive end Da’seion Cole on Gavilan’s next play. Cole returned the ball 27 yards for the pick-six, putting the Comets ahead 19-16.
Donovan Weatherspoon — who scored a touchdown on a five-yard sweep in the first quarter— sliced off left the tackle for the final yard as the Rams completed the first-half scoring with a 10-play drive covering 75 yards with 7.8 seconds left.
“Contra Costa has an opportunistic defense and it showed in the second half,” said Gilford.
The Comets came up with two interceptions in the second half and finished with a 426-326 edge in total offense.
Ellis went 19 for 28 for 260 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Watson was 12 for 23 for 212 yards and two TDs. Johnson led the Ram receivers with six grabs for 115 yards and one touchdown.
“Jakari had a great game, both in the passing game and rushing,” said Gilford.
Johnson turned a seam pass into a crisp 19-yard TD pass in the final 1:11 of play.
Davonte Sapp-Lynch rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown in 19 runs for the Comets.
Gavilan will be back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday at home against College of the Redwoods.
