Coach John Lango earned his first win over Hartnell in five
tries Saturday night as the Gavilan Rams improved to 2-0 in Coast
Conference play with a 28-13 Homecoming Game decision over the
Panthers at Andy Hardin Field.
Hollister – Coach John Lango earned his first win over Hartnell in five tries Saturday night as the Gavilan Rams improved to 2-0 in Coast Conference play with a 28-13 Homecoming Game decision over the Panthers at Andy Hardin Field.
The Rams have little time to bask in the win over their Salinas-based rivals, however, because co-conference leader Monterey Peninsula College plays host to Gavilan at 6 p.m. Saturday for sole possession of first place.
“We weren’t able to take advantage of our breaks and they did,” said Hartnell coach Larry Souza of the turnover-plagued contest.
“Those things happen,” Souza said of the wet field conditions and a first half of steady light rain. “Gavilan fumbled a lot of balls also and we didn’t take advantage of them. When we made turnovers or a big penalty, it was big and they scored.
“These were two good defensive teams. (El Ray) Henry ran well. He did fumble, but he was able to move them on the ground. You have to wrap him up to tackle him. Gavilan tackled and blocked better than we did.”
Gavilan finished with a 355-162 edge in total offense.
“Gavilan was very good up front,” said Souza. “They came off the edge well. (Roy) Sims was big for them, and No. 42 (linebacker Jason Lane) was very good.”
While Henry posted his ninth career 100-plus yards game by romping to 152 yards in 23 carries, Hartnell’s talented running back Chris Brown was sidelined with an ankle injury early in the second quarter.
“Chris tried to plant and got hit at the same time,” Souza said of the play ending Brown’s play after just three carries. “Losing him was a factor, because you have to have your ace when it’s raining like this.”
“For the most part, both our offense and defense played well,” said Lango. “Once Brown went out, I knew if we just played good football and didn’t get hurt by a big play that we’d be okay.”
Gavilan opened the scoring by covering 82 yards in seven plays, aided by a penalty on Hartnell during a Ram punt. When Gavilan accepted the penalty, Henry bolted off right tackle for 50 yards and paydirt on the next play. Horacio Arteaga’s point-after kick was blocked, leaving it 6-0 with 1:56 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers fell on the first of three Henry fumbles two minutes into the second quarter to set up business at the Ram 17. Fullback Ronnie Campbell bulled over from the two as the visitors took a 7-6 lead with 12:32 to play in the half.
The Rams took over the ball on a Tyrone Monroe interception and a Janall Arthur fumble recovery in the second quarter without points to show. A Gavilan drive stalled when Henry ended an 11-yard burst to the Panther one with a fumble into the end zone recovered by the Panthers. Hartnell had a three-and-out and the Rams received a punt and went onto a three-play, 53-yard drive to a go-ahead score.
Henry banged off several defenders on the way to a 31-yard run to the Panther 12. The sophomore again fumbled, but fought under the pile to regain possession.
Will Kilday then rolled out to his right on play-action to find Shane Butcher over to receive the 12-yard scoring toss. Sims scattered potential tacklers to cover the three yards to a two-point conversion and 14-7 halftime edge.
The Rams built a 21-7 cushion with 19 seconds left in the third quarter when Kilday teamed with Butcher on another play-action toss covering four yards. Kilday, 13-for-31 for 184 yards on the night, set up the score by firing to Daniel Salinas on a crossing pattern that picked up 59 yards.
The Panthers converted a fake punt with 9:23 to play, then scored their final points on a Brandon Olden pass to Shane Haag.
Gavilan turned back a fourth-and-one try by Hartnell with 4:24 left, then turned four plays into a 28-13 lead.
Henry capped his effective night with a jaw-dropping 23-yard thrust around right end that left four tacklers unable to stop the goalline-bound runner.
By Bob Burch Sports Writer
