College of the Sequoias, Gavilan’s first A conference opponent
in nonleague play, will be out to snap a two-game losing streak
– like the Rams – starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, when the Giants
visit Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
College of the Sequoias, Gavilan’s first A conference opponent in nonleague play, will be out to snap a two-game losing streak – like the Rams – starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, when the Giants visit Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
Both have been shut out once and have produced 14 points.
“Statistically COS is similar to us,” Gavilan coach Spencer Gilford said. “Athletically COS is superior, but we won’t back done from anybody.”
The Giants have won the past eight meetings with Gavilan, including a 63-20 victory last year at COS. Gavilan’s last win over the Giants was in 1997.
“We want to show the improvement from the last time we were at home,” Gilford said of the Rams’ need to shake off the 71-14 loss to De Anza two weeks ago. “We’ve been cleaning up the presnap errors.”
Those cost Gavilan momentum in last week’s 49-0 setback to Merced.
“We’ve been more detail-oriented at practice,” Gilford added.
First-year coach Robert Dougherty will bring a typical COS squad to Gilroy, complete with exceptional size and a full roster of 84 players.
“They are a big, physical group,” Gilford said. “Their starting running backs (Earl Rhodes and Elijhaa Penny) are 255 and 242 pounds. When they bring in their fast back, (Nigel Simmons), he’s still 215 pounds.”
Among the imposing athletes on the COS squad is freshman tight end Mike Scott, a 6-foot-6, 270-pounder from Dunbar, Fla. The Visalia-based college has 18 players from Florida high schools.
