FOOTBALL: Gavilan looking to get back on track Saturday

Last week’s loss at Shasta College did not sit well with Gavilan College football players, especially since the Rams felt as though they let themselves down. To them, it wasn’t so much what their opponent did, it was what they didn’t do leading up to the road tilt.
Head coach Spencer Gilford said the message this week in practice had to do with finding focus in the advanced preparation ahead of Saturday afternoons.
“What we have talked about since Monday is getting back on track and getting back to how we prepared in practice and played in that first game,” Gilford said Wednesday. “We are about improving day by day and the guys are responding to that this week.”
The task in front of the Rams this Saturday  is Contra Costa College (1-1); a squad loaded with Division I prospects and commitments, coming off of a 13-10 victory over De Anza. Contra Costa dropped its opener to Foothill 33-13.
“It’s a good matchup for us to see where we are at,” Gilford said. “We know what kind of team Contra Costa is. They are excited for the opportunity to play against a team of this caliber. They want this opportunity to show what we are able to do.”
After rushing for just 13 yards in Week 1 (33-20 victory), the Rams (1-1) made some headway on the ground in Week 2, accumulating 111 yards.
“Making progress in the running game week by week is something that we want to do. And it’s something we need to be successful,” Gilford said.
• Donovan Weatherspoon has stepped into the role of primary halfback, while Ed Bernard has become a multi-faceted tool out of the backfield.
• Quarterback Omar Kharroub has completed 55.9 percent of his passes in the first two games, though four of his misses have been intercepted.
• Marcus Harrell leads a busy wide receiver corps with 10 catches for 207 yards. Bobby Guyton is averaging 32.6 yards per catch.
• Gavilan’s defense has forced five turnovers.
• Game time is 5 p.m. at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.