Erik Cifuentes booted a 30-yard field goal in overtime as
Gavilan rallied past De Anza 17-14 to improve to 2-1 in the Coast
Conference.
Cupertino – Erik Cifuentes booted a 30-yard field goal in overtime as Gavilan rallied past De Anza 17-14 to improve to 2-1 in the Coast Conference.
The Rams can earn a share of the conference title by defeating Cabrillo in Saturday’s season finale in Aptos. Cabrillo is currently atop the five-team circuit at 3-0, while Gavilan and Monterey Peninsula College share second at 2-1. Gavilan also has a chance at a post-season bowl berth.
DeAnza struck for two touchdowns in the second quarter. The Rams regrouped in the second half to post a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters, forcing the overtime.
Gavilan, given the ball first in overtime, managed one first down to reach the DeAnza 14. Three plays netted just one yard before Coach John Lango sent Cifuentes onto the field for a field goal. The kick sailed true and the Rams had a 17-14 lead.
DeAnza had the football for just one play in overtime. Quarterback Kevin Pham was under pressure applied by two linebackers. Pham avoided the rush by defensive end Chase Graves but threw off his back foot and lofted a pass that defensive back Anthony Francis picked off to end the game.
Lango lauded the work of quarterback Will Kilday as a key to keeping Gavilan in the conference title picture.
“Will really managed the offense well from the second quarter on,” said Lango. “The second touchdown drive took 8:36 off the clock and covered 17 plays.”
Kilday was efficient passing (15-of-28 for 122 yards) while exhibiting strong running skills (11-for-49).
“We found that we could take advantage of Will’s strength (260 pounds) to make him a part of our running attack,” said Lango. “Will converted several short-yardage situations.”
The Dons opened the scoring with 13:02 to play in the first half when Pham tossed a 9-yard scoring toss to Brennan Marion. The PAT kick failed, leaving DeAnza ahead 6-0.
DeAnza went up 14-0 with 2:07 left in the first half. De’Shawn Ross pushed across from 1 yard out and Pham pitched a successful two-point PAT pass.
Gavilan cut the deficit in half with 6:24 left in the third quarter when Matt Perkins slashed over from the 1 to complete a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.
Kilday kept that drive alive by throwing a 10-yard pass to Ellis Krout on a third-and-6, then found Krout for 13 yards on a third-and-12 situation.
Gavilan’s longest drive to paydirt of the season, 92 yards, concluded with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard Perkins jaunt. Kilday keyed the drive with a 15-yard pass to Tim Abbott on a third-and-10. Kilday bulled for four yards on a fourth-and-one at the DeAnza 31. Perkins set up the touchdown with an 18-yard scamper to the 3. Cifuentes was good on both Ram PAT kicks.
DeAnza threatened to snap the 14-14 by reaching the Ram 22 with one minute to play. A sack of Pham set up a Francis interception to stop the Dons attack.
Perkins finished with 85 yards on 28 carries. Krout covered 40 yards with six catches. Sam Moultrie, a starter at quarterback early in the campaign, played linebacker against DeAnza and recorded a sack.
