Rams play closest game of season, but fall 19-14 to Contra
Costa
Gilroy – Contra Costa College extended Gavilan College’s losing streak to four games Saturday night by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 19-14 non-conference victory at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
The Rams will complete the pre-conference portion of their schedule with road games Saturday at Hartnell, and against College of Sequoias the following weekend.
Gavilan grabbed a 7-0 lead on an 85-yard scoring play from Sam Moultrie to wideout Ellis Krout in the closing 13 seconds of the first quarter. The Rams held that advantage until the first five minutes of the third quarter.
“We made some adjustments at halftime,” said Comets coach John McDermott.
The visitors managed just one first down in the first half, finishing with 13 for the game.
“We knew we had to be prepared because Gavilan’s a well-coached team and is better than its record,” McDermott said. “They gave us a difficult time.”
The decisive fourth quarter opened on a somber note for the Rams. Quarterback Moultrie suffered a broken arm in the first seconds of the quarter. Backup Will Kilday’s first pass attempt was intercepted near midfield. Contra Costa covered the 48 yards for the go-ahead score, capping the drive on a 30-yard TD toss from Alex Smith to Orlando Arnold. The PAT kick was blocked, leaving the Comets up 13-7 with 12:24 to play.
A bad snap on a Gavilan punt attempt left Contra Costa in business at the Rams 36. The Comets needed six plays to score the deciding touchdown, a 1-yard sneak by Smith with 5:48 to play in the game.
The Rams regrouped to march 68 yards to a touchdown. Alex Gonzales pulled in a Kilday pass for the 41-yard six-pointer with 3:46 left.
“Ellis Krout played well,” said coach John Lango of the Rams’ top receiver. The freshman finished with three catches for 135 yards.
“We gave up too many big plays,” said Lango of the Rams defensive showing. “We also didn’t finish two drives that could have made the difference.”
Krout gave the Rams a chance to take a two-touchdown lead early in the third quarter, taking the opening kick-off and blazing to a 64-yard return to the Comets 20. The Rams gave up the ball without gaining a first down.
Moultrie completed 2-of-12 tosses for 121 yards and two interceptions. Kilday connected on 6-of-18 for 113 yards.
Matt Perkins led the Rams rushers with 37 yards in 20 attempts. Freshman Justin Sweeney was limited to one rush because of a leg injury.
