The Gavilan College defense continued to create havoc on
opposing offenses Saturday night, effectively shutting down the
College of Marin in a 41-7 drubbing before 300 fans at Gilroy’s
Mustang Stadium.
The Gavilan College defense continued to create havoc on opposing offenses Saturday night, effectively shutting down the College of Marin in a 41-7 drubbing before 300 fans at Gilroy’s Mustang Stadium.
While the Rams offense was called “pathetic” by head coach John Lango, the defensive unit improved on last weekend’s five first down performance against West Valley. College of Marin was limited to one first down, that happening early in the second quarter on a pass interference penalty.
The 2-0 Rams continue pre-Coast Conference play Saturday night with a meeting in Visalia against the College of Sequoias Giants.
“We’re starting the heart of our schedule,” said Lango. “The next three are going to be tough.”
Gavilan built a 20-0 lead within the game’s first 16 minutes, then tacked on 21 more in the second half as the Mariners, with just 29 players suited up, wilted against the sustained pressure of the Gavilan defensive presence.
“We dominated up front,” said sophomore linebacker Janall Arthur. “We didn’t come up flat like last week’s game. The play up front made it very easy on the linebackers and secondary to do their jobs.”
Marin quarterback Lafon Howard was pestered all game by the Gavilan defensive pressure, absorbing eight sacks. All-conference lineman Roy Sims was involved in five sacks. Arthur, Tony Beal, Jason Lane and Bradley Niles each had a solo sack.
“Our defense played great,” said Marin coach Karl Finley. “If our offense could make a first down or two, we’d rolling. We got some turnovers – caused some fumbles, made two interceptions and blocked a punt. There were some positive things on the defensive side.”
“On the offensive side, we still have some work to do. All five of our offensive linemen were going both ways. We only brought seven linemen. Injuries and a suspension last week limited us (to 29 players).”
“We still made a lot of mistakes,” Lango added about the Ram offensive unit. Gavilan lost four of five fumbles while collecting just 97 yards in 34 rushing plays.
The offensive woes were ignored by the defense’s effort against the Mariners, causing a negative 41 yards in total offense. Howard gained six yards with a 2-for-11 showing. The Marin ground game lost 47 yards in 39 tries.
Gavilan scored on its first two series for a 14-0 cushion with 6:30 left in the opening quarter.
The Rams covered 42 yards in four plays for a 7-0 lead with 10:21 left. Quarterback Will Kilday found Guy Blightman open for a 25-yard slip-screen pass to the three. Kilday then bowled over for the touchdown at the left pylon. Horacio Arteaga added the PAT kick.
Gavilan pinned Marin inside its own five on the next series, with the visitor’s punt setting the Rams up at the Marin 17. Blightman grabbed a three-yard scoring pitch from Kilday.
Kilday connected with Blightman and Steven Conner late in the first quarter before Shane Butcher grabbed a 20-yard TD toss from Kilday on the first play of the second quarter for a 20-0 lead.
Gavilan needed six series before adding another touchdown. El Ray Henry, limited to 10 carries because of a rib injury suffered midway through the first quarter, bolted through the Mariner right flank for a 28-yard touchdown scamper with 5:30 to go in the third quarter. Arteaga converted the extra point.
Kilday teamed with Daniel Salinas for a swing pass that turned into a 55-yard touchdown play with 4:59 left in the third. Conner then passed to Arthur for the two-point conversion and a 35-0 lead.
The teams each added a touchdown in the fourth quarter on special teams play. Tyrone Monroe covered 49 yards to paydirt off a Marin punt, beginning the return to the left side before angling back to the right to pick up enough blockers to finish in the endzone with 11:21 left.
Gavilan punter Curtis Lilly had a punt blocked and returned 38 yards with 7:50 to play to spoil the shutout bid.
Kilday finished with a 17-for-31 effort worth 260 yards and three touchdowns. Gavilan and Monterey Peninsula College are the lone unbeaten Coast Conference teams, each at 2-0.
Gavilan will face College of the Sequoias in Visalia on Saturday.
Bob Burch
