West Valley hosts the Gavilan Rams Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at
Saratoga High in the Coast Conference finale for both clubs.
While the Vikings are winless at 0-9, Gavilan has an opportunity
to finish 2-1 over its final three games and complete its season
with a 2-2 conference record.
Head coach John Lango has warned his Rams to be wary of the
winless Vikings, however.
GILROY
West Valley hosts the Gavilan Rams Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Saratoga High in the Coast Conference finale for both clubs.
While the Vikings are winless at 0-9, Gavilan has an opportunity to finish 2-1 over its final three games and complete its season with a 2-2 conference record.
Head coach John Lango has warned his Rams to be wary of the winless Vikings, however.
“I remember in 2005 when we went to San Jose City the last game of the year and they were 0-9,” Lango said. “San Jose’s guys played their best game and it was because they didn’t want to finish 0-10. We lost to them 34-33 when we went for two points on the final play of the game and were not successful.”
The Vikings are under the direction of first-year head coach Jim Winkler. While West Valley has dropped many lopsided games, the team was edged by Monterey Peninsula College 23-13 and hung in against San Jose City by a 32-14 margin.
Kyle Cool of Branham High quarterbacks West Valley. The freshman has passed for 869 yards and seven touchdowns, and also owns the only two rushing touchdowns for the team, both coming against San Jose City.
Thomas Reynolds, with 327 yards on 93 carries, tops the Viking ground game. Wideout Dimitri Vigil has netted 404 yards and two touchdowns on 36 receptions.
“West Valley’s been struggling, but they have some talented players who will play their best on Saturday,” Lango said. “It will be up to us to sustain some drives and not turn the ball over. We want to go out on a good note.”
Gavilan’s loss last weekend to Hartnell may have eliminated a chance to replay the De Anza game, postponed because of a light failure at Gilroy High on Oct. 17. The Coast Conference champion is scheduled to play in a bowl on Nov. 21, leaving little time to replay the game during that week even if Gavilan’s appeal would be successful.
