SAN PABLO
– A 35-year-old school record was shattered and a three-game
losing streak ended Saturday afternoon as Gavilan College rolled
past the host Contra Costa Comets 73-32 in non-conference football
play.
SAN PABLO – A 35-year-old school record was shattered and a three-game losing streak ended Saturday afternoon as Gavilan College rolled past the host Contra Costa Comets 73-32 in non-conference football play.
Since the program began in 1963, Gavilan has managed to break the 50-point mark just five times, the 60-point mark twice. The National Champion team of 1973 set a school scoring record with a 62-15 win over Sierra in the state playoffs. The Rams followed in 1974 with a 68-0 drubbing of the Cal JV’s.
Gavilan erupted for a 45-14 halftime lead over the Comets, then slowed slightly with two touchdowns in each of the final two quarters.
“We decided to run the football,” coach John Lango said.
The offense produced 419 rushing yards on the way to 601 yards of total offense.
“We took (Contra Costa’s) passing game away and we played opportunistic football,” Lango said.
The Rams turned three interceptions and one fumble recovery into four touchdowns and one field goal.
As Coast Conference play nears (opener Oct. 17 at home to DeAnza), Lango was able to give the entire squad playing time in preparation for the five-week conference grind.
“Our defense really played well, and on offense we were able to have a lot of guys touch the ball,” Lango said. “We also never turned the ball over.”
While Gavilan’s two listed quarterbacks combined for three touchdown passes, freshman running back (and 2008 Live Oak High quarterback) Jeff Roberts took advantage of some snaps from the Wildcat formation to account for two touchdowns. Roberts tossed a two-yard TD pass to Victor Sapp 3:52 into the second quarter for a 17-0 lead, then completed the scoring with a 43-yard bolt up the middle with 10:30 left in the contest.
Gavilan posted the game’s first 38 points. The Rams earned a 7-0 lead when Andrew Gayles scored from 10 yards out to cap a 70-yard scoring drive. Ivan Lopez added a 20-yard field goal for the 10-0 cushion.
The teams combined for 49 points in the second quarter.
After the Roberts TD pass, Ryan Costa came up with an interception on the first Comet play at the host’s 25. Kevin Young’s 1-yard TD run left it 24-0 with 9:25 left until halftime. Another 42 seconds into play, Dante Young returned a Comet fumble 35 yards for a touchdown and a 31-0 edge. Michael Incardona threw a 26-yard TD pass to Sapp to make it 38-0.
When the Comets connected on an 11-yard TD pass with 2:33 left, Gavilan responded with another 70-yard march to paydirt as Sapp grabbed a 15-yard Incardona pass with 14 seconds left. Comet Myron Mooring ended the half’s scoring with an 88-yard kick-off return.
Sean Hale (14 rushes for 108 yards) dashed to an 8-yard TD and Matt Edwards found Frank Lawson III open for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Kevin Young (15 for 120) contributed a 6-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
Sapp finished with 10 catches worth 123 yards and three touchdowns.
