Coach John Lango begins his eighth season at the helm of the
Gavilan College football program with a Saturday road trip to
Kentfield to face the College of Marin at 1pm.
Gilroy – Coach John Lango begins his eighth season at the helm of the Gavilan College football program with a Saturday road trip to Kentfield to face the College of Marin at 1pm.
The Rams have a 2-5 record in season openers since Lango began his collegiate head coaching career with a 35-26 loss to the host Merced Blue Devils in 2000. Gavilan did begin the 2003 season with a 28-14 win over a visiting Merced squad, then went to Saratoga in 2004 and topped the West Valley Vikings 21-3 in the opener.
The Mariners will offer an interesting test for the freshman-dominated Rams, if only due to a big difference in roster sizes.
While the Rams will suit up at least 55 players this weekend, the regrouping Marin squad is likely to offer only 35 players. Coach Chris Augusto, in his second year as head coach, looks to Bobbi Lutge, a converted wide receiver and linebacker, to quarterback his charges. Rex Nowak, one of a handful of returning Mariners, will play a significant role for College of Marin as a starting wide-out.
Augusto tabbed 285-pound left guard Chuck Lucero as a key component in the Mariner offensive line. Leaders among the defensive unit announced by Augusto include 240-pound linebacker Levi Leon and strong safety Arslan Johnston.
Augusto outlined his philosophy as a mixture of the spread offense and the West Coast offense.
The Mariners, a member of the Bay Valley Conference, have a 2-3 mark against Lango-coached squads.
Lango has not decided which of two quarterbacks he will name to start Saturday’s contest. The coach conceded that the back-up quarterback will be put into the game in the second quarter. A decision on playing time for the second half at quarterback will be the product of the play of both freshmen, Michael Incardona and Nick Kalantari.
“I’ll look to see who has the hot hand, who’s leading the team and not making a lot of mistakes.”
Lango will once again seek to built up his team to withstand the rigors of a four-game season in the balanced Coast Conference. The Rams were able to shake off a 1-5 pre-conference log last fall to go 3-1 and earn a co-conference title.
“Having 13 sophomores will hopefully lead to us playing with a very high tempo,” said Lango of the opener.
Sophomores Anthony Francis (cornerback) and Steven Conner (tight end) have stepped up to become two of the team leaders, according to Lango.
“The sophomores will have to step up,” said Lango of the plans for the season opener.
“We have three sophs in the defensive backfield, one at linebacker and one in the line,” the coach noted of the defense. “There will be either two or three sophomores among the receivers as well as two offensive linemen.”
Lango is anxious to see wide-out Ellis Krout “play a dominant game for once.” The sophomore made several key catches in the final moments of a 20-19 win over Cabrillo. “Ellis is attacking the ball now instead of waiting for the ball to come to him.”
The coach is also looking to see how converted defensive player (and collegiate basketball player) Blair Wortham competes Saturday as a wide-out. “Blair’s 6-foot-5 and runs well,” said Lango.
Gavilan begins a five-game home schedule Saturday Sept. 8 at 7pm against Modesto JC at Gilroy High School’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
