GILROY—While Gavilan scored 63 points in its season opening win against Shasta, it also gave up 50. Coach Spencer Gilford acknowledged that his cornerbacks are all freshmen and that the play of the defensive secondary must improve.
The Rams coach said the team’s preparation doesn’t change week to week and he’s confident in the system to correct and improve its mistakes.
“(We’re just telling them) to do their jobs to the best of their abilities,” the Rams coach said. “There were situations where we just didn’t do our job. It wasn’t that we were physically beat, it was that mentally we had a lapse and when that happens in the secondary that turns into touchdowns.”
Mendocino dropped its season opener 37-16 to Reedley College, displaying struggles both in the air and on the ground. Reedley held the Eagles to just 67 yards on the ground, while racking up 211 of its own.
The Eagles split the quarterback role between two players—Justin Primus and Connor Moore—who combined completed just 36 percent of their passes for 206 yards. Each also threw a pick in the game.
The Rams were stellar in the air, however, led by quarterback Drew Fryhoff who was 11 for 19 with 262 yards and five touchdowns.
Like Mendocino, Gavilan experienced trouble with its run game, only picking up 78 yards against Shasta, something Gilford said he’s not worried about. Miguel Redmond led the Rams on the ground, picking up 49 yards on 13 carries, but expects the run game to improve as the O-line gains experience.
“Again, just going over the technique required and having our young guys—we have a lot of young guys not only in the secondary, but in the offensive line—that it was their first (college) game for the majority of those guys in those two groups. Now it’s just that the understanding the technique is extremely important in you executing your job on every play,” Gilford said.
The Rams will rely on their freshmen core to lead them past the Eagles on Saturday. With a college game now under their belts, Gilford said he’s expecting his rookies to adjust to the speed, intensity and focus required of them at this level.
Mendocino will need better protection from its offensive line—which gave up six sacks for a loss of 34 yards—from the Gavilan defensive who picked up three of its own against Shasta. Gilford said the Rams will look to capitalize on this and any other opportunity the Eagles present, while they focus on correcting their own mistakes.
For the Rams, the keys to victory lie in continuing its strong offensive attack and making smarter plays in the secondary.
Gavilan will play at Mendocino at 3 p.m. Saturday.
