When the Gavilan College Rams host the Hartnell Panthers
Saturday at 7pm at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, just one victory
will be represented four weeks into the 2007 season.
Gilroy – When the Gavilan College Rams host the Hartnell Panthers Saturday at 7pm at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, just one victory will be represented four weeks into the 2007 season.
Gavilan opened the season with a 27-14 win over College of Marin before dropping three straight. Coach Matt Collins’ Panthers are 0-4 in pre-Golden Gate Conference play.
Hartnell has struggled in the first half of each contest. While the Panthers have been blanked in each first quarter, the opposition has managed 48 points. The Panthers fare little better in the second quarter, trailing 75-14 in scoring.
“They’re going to throw all night,” said Gavilan coach John Lango of the hungry Panthers.
“We’ve faced more passes than any team in junior college football this season and Hartnell should be no different,” added Lango. “It’s going to be vital to stop Hartnell from making those third-down conversions.”
Hartnell has managed to produce a reasonable passing offense (245.5 yards per game average) behind quarterback Edward Stefani. The team’s top wide-out, Chava Josey, is also the back-up quarterback. Stefani has covered 865 yards in four games (83-for-180). In comparison, Gavilan’s two-passer threat of Nick Kalantari (34-for-79 for 362 yards) and Michael Incardona (20-for-43 for 180) has resulted in just 100.2 yards per game through the air.
“Our goal is to go through the game with just one quarterback,” said Lango. “We need someone to step up. The quarterbacks have made some poor decisions at times.”
The few times that Hartnell rushes the ball, Brendan Bartley (25-for-87 and two touchdowns) is the likely carrier. Gavilan counters with frosh tailback Tim Lango, good for 169 yards in 46 attempts.
Lango is still waiting for a break-out game for sophomore wide-out Ellis Krout, who does lead the team with 17 catches worth 252 yards.
Gavilan does have a plus-six turnover ratio and is counting on ball control play and a minimum of mistakes to topple the Panthers.
The Rams will continue a homestand Saturday Oct. 6 against College of Sequoias.
