Gavilan College goes after its first win of the season and a
chance to continue to strive for a share of the Coast Conference
football title Saturday by invading Saratoga High School to play
the West Valley Vikings.
GILROY
Gavilan College goes after its first win of the season and a chance to continue to strive for a share of the Coast Conference football title Saturday by invading Saratoga High School to play the West Valley Vikings.
Kick-off is 6:30 p.m.
The second game of a five-game conference schedule pits Gavilan against 0-6 West Valley, a club in danger of going 0-10 for the second consecutive year.
Gavilan coach John Lango noted, though, that the Vikings “throw the ball well.”
“Their quarterback (Tyler Ippoliti) is effective,” Lango said. “He’s 6-foot-4 and runs the option well.”
Ippoliti has covered 592 yards and four touchdowns on a 64 of 144 effort through the air. Ippoliti is the second leading ground-gainer for the Vikes, running 59 times for 132 yards and one score. Chris Eke, with 141 yards, paces West Valley.
While West Valley has been limited to 51.5 yards on the ground per game, Gavilan is only slightly better, with 67.2 yards per outing. Sophomore workhorse Doug Stewart leads the Rams with 154 yards on 30 carries. Stewart also has snared 14 passes, two for touchdowns.
Lango has not decided on his starting quarterback for the weekend. If Cameron Hernandez (70 of 139, 737 yards) does not make his seventh consecutive start, Lango may switch to left-hander John Criswell. Sean Berglund has seen action in every game and may split time with Criswell Saturday night as well.
Ronnie Isles of West Valley will be the receiver with the best statistics Saturday, owning 21 catches for 238 yards and one touchdown. Gavilan’s top receiver is Matt McGill, with 20 grabs for 235 yards.
West Valley has given up at least 45 points in four of the six games this season. The Vikings scored a season-high 14 points in a 77-14 setback to College of San Mateo.
The conference grind for Gavilan continues Saturday Oct. 30 at home against the Monterey Peninsula College Lobos.
