A familiar foe will be on hand at 5 p.m. Saturday when
first-year coach Spencer Gilford and the Gavilan Rams open the 2011
football season against the De Anza Dons in a nonconference
showdown at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
”
I know De Anza very well,
”
Gilford said.
”
I’ve played against them for several years. They are coming off
back-to-back conference titles. We have a lot of respect for what
they do.
”
GILROY
A familiar foe will be on hand at 5 p.m. Saturday when first-year coach Spencer Gilford and the Gavilan Rams open the 2011 football season against the De Anza Dons in a nonconference showdown at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
“I know De Anza very well,” Gilford said. “I’ve played against them for several years. They are coming off back-to-back conference titles. We have a lot of respect for what they do.”
That familiarity extends beyond the record books. De Anza has won four straight games against the Rams and went unbeaten in the Coast Conference in 2009 before being moved up to the Golden Gate Conference in 2010.
Dons coach Dan Atencio was in charge of Gavilan’s football squad in 1998-99. One of Atencio’s two quarterbacks, Nick Marra, led Gilroy High School to a postseason playoff berth in 2009.
“We like to play tough teams and, regardless of the record, the Gavilan guys always play hard,” Atencio said of the weekend matchup.
“We should be better than last year, but you don’t know how the team’s going to play until the games begin. We have size and speed, and we’ll travel 84 players.”
Gavilan will suit up as many as 50 players, including eight from Gilroy High, four from San Benito, and one apiece from Live Oak, Sobrato and Anchorpoint.
Gilford named Nate Ellis, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, as the Rams’ starting quarterback. Omar Kharroob will back up Ellis.
“We’re coming on strong,” Ellis said of the first three weeks of practice. “I’m ready to go. With the new staff and all the new players, (De Anza) isn’t going to know what to expect.”
Jeff Smith, a cornerback out of Gilroy High, has drawn repeated praise from Gilford.
“Jeff’s practiced very well,” Gilford said. “He’s aggressive, has good skills.”
Jakari Johnson, a product of Oakland’s Castlemont High, has settled into the role of the primary running back for the Rams.
“Jakari has good speed, is elusive and is an all-around good football player,” Gilford said.
Johnson may need all of those talents to avoid De Anza’s pair of all-conference defensive ends, Dan Winters (6 foot 4, 245 pounds from Willow Glen) and Omar Al-Helew (6 foot 1, 220 pounds from Santa Teresa).
Marra and Joshua McCain of Piedmont Hills will share the quarterbacking for the visitors. A primary target will be sophomore tight end Matt Schmidt, a 6-foot-4, 245-pounder from Valley Christian. All of the De Anza running backs are freshmen.
“It’s a bear of a schedule,” Gilford said. “Our main goal is to compete, from the first to the last play.”
