GILROY – Monterey Peninsula College will bring a five-game
series winning streak into Saturday’s game with the Gavilan Rams on
the Lobos’ field in Monterey.
GILROY – Monterey Peninsula College will bring a five-game series winning streak into Saturday’s game with the Gavilan Rams on the Lobos’ field in Monterey.
Coach Mike Rasmussen’s Lobos have not lost to coach John Lango’s Rams since 2003. Gavilan upended MPC 38-23 on the way to a share of the Coast Conference crown and an invitation to the Sacramento Shrine Game that season.
“We’re pretty evenly matched,” Lango said of the key conference match-up. Both teams have one conference loss, making the loser an unlikely candidate for even a share of the title.
“Monterey runs the ball well,” Lango added. “They do a lot of play-action passing. Their special teams are solid.”
Kick-off is 6 p.m.
Andrew Rosso, with 619 yards on 134 carries, paces the Lobo ground game. Quarterback Daniel Connors has completed 85 of 164 pass attempts for 999 yards and nine touchdowns for the 3-4 Lobos.
MPC relies on wideout Bret Chernetsky to bolster the aerial portion of the offense. Chernetsky has 40 catches for 468 yards and two touchdowns, while the next Lobo receiver has 12 receptions.
“I really respect Gavilan,” Rasmussen said. “They’ve done a great job competing, playing hard this year. This will be a typical game between the two schools, always competitive.”
Gavilan has a diversified passing game, keyed by the sophomore tandem of Timothy Harvey and Victor Sapp. Both wideouts have 31 catches for the 1-5 Rams.
“They’ve both matured,” Lango said of the veteran receivers. “Either can be a threat to go deep. They are big targets. Both will be able to continue playing college ball next year.”
Harvey is 13th all-time among pass receivers in the 47 years of Gavilan football with 67 receptions. Ben Canzano, with 69 in 1994-95, is 12th. Sharing the 10th spot at 72 are Randy Vosters (1974-75) and Tee McIntosh (1989-90).
Frank Lawson III has three touchdown receptions for the Rams, while Sapp paces the team with four and Harvey has three.
Gavilan will host Hartnell Nov. 7 for Homecoming at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
