GILROY
– Coast Conference football opens play this weekend, thereby
assuring three of the six member teams will emerge with wins.
Through five weeks of pre-Coast Conference play, the six teams
have combined for two victories.
GILROY – Coast Conference football opens play this weekend, thereby assuring three of the six member teams will emerge with wins.
Through five weeks of pre-Coast Conference play, the six teams have combined for two victories.
Gavilan College hosts the San Jose City College Jaguars at 7pm Saturday at Gilroy’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex. Both of the teams sport 0-5 marks.
Only Cabrillo, owner of a 26-25 edging of Reedley, and Monterey Peninsula College, good for a 14-10 upset of 2009 Coast Conference champion DeAnza, have 1-4 marks. Hartnell and West Valley also have 0-5 records.
Gavilan coach John Lango predicted that the winner of Saturday night’s showdown could emerge as a potential conference champion and representative in the bowl set aside for the conference titlist.
“A win against San Jose would go a long way toward our goal of winning a championship,” Lango said.
Gavilan follows this weekend’s conference home date with a Saturday night game opposite West Valley in Saratoga. The Rams and Vikings have the scored the fewest points and allowed the most points among the conference teams. West Valley went 0-10 last season.
The Jaguars tilt will be the first night game of the year for the Rams.
“Conditioning won’t be a factor,” said Lango. “We’ve been playing in the middle of the afternoon, so even if the temperature is high on Saturday I know we’ll be fine.”
Lango has opted to open up the quarterbacking position to competition this week. Cameron Hernandez has taken most of the snaps this year, throwing 118 times for 60 completions, 623 yards and six touchdowns.
“The past two weeks, Cameron’s play hasn’t been as capable as earlier in the year,” said Lango.
The coach is also looking for an igniter for the offense by opening the tailback spot for this week. “We need someone to hit the hole, run hard,” described Lango of an acceptable tailback.
“We’re a little banged up,” reported Lango of the Rams’ health beginning the five-game conference run. “We have two defensive starters out, although we may get James Gaynor back on offense and special teams.”
Lango is looking for a simplified offensive game plan and a more physical defensive performance in leading to a victory this weekend.
“San Jose’s offensive line is very experienced and they can be an explosive running team,” Lango said of the Jaguars’ strengths.
Omari Carr paces San Jose City’s ground game with 49 rushes and 186 yards. Ben Pomele has scored two Jaguar touchdowns. Kyle Cool has thrown for 590 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-of-84 showing through the air. Kenney Pope has caught four touchdown passes among his 28 grabs.
