A 35-year-old school record was shattered and a three-game
losing streak ended Saturday afternoon as Gavilan College rolled
past host Contra Costa College 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 host Contra Costa College 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, while one year later, the Rams followed with a 68-0 drubbing of the Cal JV’s.
But on Saturday, Gavilan broke both records when it 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,” Rams head coach John Lango said.
The offense produced 419 rushing yards on its 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 four turnovers – three interceptions and one fumble recovery – into four touchdowns and one field goal.
As Coast Conference play nears – the Rams’ opener is Oct. 17 at home to De Anza – Lango was able to give his 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 2-yard touchdown pass to Victor Sapp just three minutes and 52 seconds 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 touchdown pass, Ryan Costa came up with an interception on the first Comet play at the host’s 25. Kevin Young’s 1-yard touchdown run made it 24-0 with 9:25 left until halftime. Some 42 seconds later, Dante Young returned a Comet fumble 35 yards for a touchdown and a 31-0 edge. Michael Incardona threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Sapp to make it 38-0.
When the Comets connected on an 11-yard touchdown 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, who had 14 rushes for 108 yards, dashed to an 8-yard touchdown and Matt Edwards found Frank Lawson III open for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Kevin Young, who had 15 carries for 120 yards, contributed a 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Sapp finished with 10 catches worth 123 yards and three touchdowns.
