The Gavilan Rams’ testing schedule leading to the four-game
Coast Conference experience at the end of the season features a
long trip to Mendocino Saturday to play a veteran Eagle squad at
1pm.
Gilroy – The Gavilan Rams’ testing schedule leading to the four-game Coast Conference experience at the end of the season features a long trip to Mendocino Saturday to play a veteran Eagle squad at 1pm.
Coach John Lango’s Rams (1-1) play their lone afternoon game of the campaign while looking to avenge a 34-13 loss to Mendocino College last season at Gilroy High School.
Lango has settled on freshman Nick Kalantari as the team’s starting quarterback. The eighth-year coach added that no significant injuries came out of last weekend’s 44-14 loss to Modesto Junior College.
“Some kids are a little banged up but they all should be ready to go Saturday,” he said.
The Rams “have to eliminate the big play, the yardage after the catch,” Lango said of the Saturday challenge coming after a disappointing effort against the Pirates.
“We need our offense to sustain some drives and our defense to carry out their assignments and tackle better,” said Lango of the team’s goals for the weekend.
The Mendocino Eagles also sport a 1-1 record. Coach Tom Gang’s team dropped a 70-40 contest to powerhouse Santa Rosa before edging Shasta College 17-13.
“We’ve got 20 sophomores so we’ve more mature than the team that beat Gavilan last year.
“We have five sophomores starting on the offensive line and we bring back five sophomore receivers,” added Gang. “Having veterans allows us to do more things, but we still have to eliminate some of the mistakes from the last two games.”
Gang has two solid quarterbacks and has devised an offensive scheme to fit both signal-callers.
“Cody Mancuso is a pocket passer, while Jake Laudenslayer has a gun and runs a 4.7 40,” Gang said. Mancuso completed 20 of 30 pass attempts for 219 yards against Santa Rosa. Laudenslayer scrambled for the winning touchdown against Shasta.
“This is the biggest team I’ve ever had here,” added Gang about the size of his starters. “The offensive line is not only big but it can run.”
Gang is welcoming back sophomore defensive end Jermaine Jacobs (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) for Saturday’s game. The all-Bay Valley League performer in 2006 missed this season’s first two games because of a concussion, but has been cleared to practice and play.
“Jermaine’s our sparkplug on defense,” said Gang.
Gavilan will continue pre-conference play Friday Sept. 21 at Contra Costa College in San Pablo at 7pm.
