Tonight’s battle for Coast Conference supremacy may come down to
the Gavilan College football team’s ability to slow down the
state’s top passer in Monterey Peninsula College’s Dustin Long.
Monterey – Tonight’s battle for Coast Conference supremacy may come down to the Gavilan College football team’s ability to slow down the state’s top passer in Monterey Peninsula College’s Dustin Long.
The Rams and the Lobos, each 2-0 in Coast Conference play, meet tonight at 6pm at MPC Stadium for the conference lead and a likely spot in a bowl game in December against the Bay Valley champion.
Gavilan has been ranked as the state’s top defense for the last six weeks. The Rams have allowed an average of 167 yards each game, ahead of the state’s top team, CCSF at 184.
In contrast, MPC’s Long is easily the most proficient passer in the state, having covered a state-best 2,473 yards along with 20 touchdowns. Gavilan has been burned for just 793 passing yards in seven outings.
“We strive for balance,” said MPC coach Mike Rasmussen of the Lobos.
MPC has managed 805 yards in posting a 6-1 mark, just nine fewer yards than the Rams runners. Gavilan’s 1282 yards is just a few yards more than one-half the Lobo total through the air.
“We’ve just been able to get better each week,” said Rasmussen of the progress of his fourth Lobo squad. “We’ll need to be even better this week because Gavilan’s by far the best team we’ll have faced.
“They play great defense, very evident in their number one ranking in the state. They are well-coached and have built that defense over the years. On offense, Gavilan has a great running back and several weapons with those fine receivers. We’re going to have our hands full.”
Gavilan shook off an early two-touchdown deficit last season to topple the Lobos 38-23. El Ray Henry covered a career-best 220 yards and five touchdowns against MPC, including a 74-yard run to paydirt.
Long’s top threat has been Josh Morales, a sophomore wide-out out of Huntington Beach. Morales has scored eight touchdowns while snaring 52 passes for 962 yards. Clarence Love, despite no touchdowns, has covered 791 yards with just 26 catches. Josh Langan, out of Grand View, Co., has 23 grabs, 436 yards and four TDs.
“MPC’s definitely the best passing offense we will see all season,” said Gavilan coach John Lango.
“A lot of our kids come from San Jose and they know this guy (Long prepped at Silver Creek High) is a great quarterback. He’ll stretch the field, throw screens and call some draws. They even like to run a lot out of special teams situations, fake punts and field goals, so we’ve spent a lot of time defending that at practice.”
The top running back for the Lobos is Quin Brown, a freshman with 543 yards and three touchdowns.
Gavilan completes the 10-game schedule with games Nov. 6 at Cabrillo and Nov. 13 at home against San Jose City College.
