Rams need third-ranked defense to shut down West Valley’s
efficient attack on Saturday
GILROY
A fourth victory is available to the Gavilan football Rams Saturday at 7 p.m., when they close out the season against the visiting West Valley Vikings at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
The game will be the last for both Coast Conference members.
“That fourth win would make a big difference to us,” Gavilan coach John Lango said. “That would make us 4-6, with five of the six losses by seven points or less.”
West Valley already has four wins, including two victories in conference play. A win Saturday would allow coach John Vlahos’ squad to finish in the upper half of the six-team conference.
“This should be a very close game,” said Vlahos, who is in his seventh year guiding the Vikes. “Gavilan’s been tremendous on defense. Our team’s strength is the offense, so we’re matched well.”
The Vikes (2-2 conference, 4-5 overall) are guided by sophomore quarterback Doug Webster, a Leigh High graduate who has thrown for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions in nine outings. Webster’s 65.4 percent completion percentage leads the state rankings.
“Doug’s very efficient with the ball,” Vlahos said. “He’s our go-to performer.”
He will be facing a Rams defense ranked third in California.
“Our defensive ranking is the result of keeping most teams to less than their average total offense,” Lango said. West Valley brings to Gilroy an offense averaging 357 yards per game.
Vlahos echoed what many of the conference coaches have said in stating the Rams “have three good running backs.”
“We need to stop the run, try to force them to pass,” he said.
West Valley has two of the better cornerbacks in the conference in Jorda Gilstrap and Gini Ibe. Gilstrap leads the conference with four interceptions. Ibe has three thefts.
Lango pointed out that there is another Viking who could play the biggest role.
“Their inside linebacker, Andrew Reyes, is their key defensive player,” he said.
Gavilan (1-3, 3-6) will continue to rely on the three-back arrangement of Tim Lango, Matt McCoy and Matt Perkins. If the Vikings can force the Rams to the air, the three freshmen at wideout – Victor Sapp, Tim Harvey and Doug Stewart – will need to find pockets in the West Valley defense and await throws by either Connor Farotte or Nick Kalantari.
