The Gavilan Rams slipped to 1-3 in pre-Coast Conference play
Friday night by suffering a 20-17 setback to the host Contra Costa
Comets.
San Pablo – The Gavilan Rams slipped to 1-3 in pre-Coast Conference play Friday night by suffering a 20-17 setback to the host Contra Costa Comets.
The Rams had an opportunity to put the Comets away in the fourth quarter, holding a 17-14 lead with a first-and-goal at the Comet seven. A sack and an interception in the end zone stalled Gavilan, setting up Contra Costa’s winning 80-yard march.
Gavilan continues pre-conference play Saturday at 7pm with a game against the Hartnell Panthers at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
Gavilan trailed for only 4:39 of play. Contra Costa used 10 plays, primarily on the ground, to go the 80 yards to the winning touchdown with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter.
Harrison Rheinhardt, the Comets’ lone rushing threat, accounted for 60 of the yards in the drive, including a 32-yard jaunt to begin the march. Rheinhardt, who took game running honors with 79 yards on 20 attempts, concluded the scoring with a two-yard plunge.
Gavilan opened the game’s scoring with a touchdown on its first possession. Starting quarterback Nick Kalantari led the Rams to a five-play drive over 66 yards, capped by an 11-yard pass to Steven Conner. Michael Blewett’s PAT kick gave Gavilan a 7-0 lead with 11:07 left in the first quarter.
Contra Costa answered with a 21-yard TD pass from Brandon Kahn to Deonta Allen with 5:03 to play in the quarter. Tarchie Herron kicked the PAT.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the second quarter. The Rams took a 14-7 lead on a six-yard pass from Michael Incardona to Ellis Krout 5:46 before halftime. The Comets rebounded with a 20-yard TD pass from Kahn to tight end Orlando Arnold with 1:32 left for a 14-14 tie.
A short Comet punt deep in Contra Costa territory left Gavilan with a first down on the host 28. The Rams had to settle for a Blewett 42-yard field goal for a 17-14 edge with 10:58 left in the third quarter.
Tim Lango covered 78 yards on 16 rushes for the Rams. Matt McCoy added 27 yards on four tries. Incardona went 7-for-16 for 74 yards, Kalantari 5-for-12 for 69 yards. Krout covered 80 yards with five catches.
