Gavilan’s offense provided some spark but the Ram defense was
outmanned Saturday afternoon as the host College of Sequoias Giants
powered to a 63-20 victory in nonconference play
VISALIA — Gavilan’s offense provided some spark, but the Rams’ defense was outmanned Saturday as the host College of Sequoias Giants powered to a 63-20 victory in nonconference play.
The 63 points were the most by an opponent since Sierra coasted to a 65-0 win over the Rams in 2003. Gavilan exploded for 73 points last season in a victory over Contra Costa, the host of Gavilan’s final nonconference game Oct. 9 in San Pablo.
Saturday’s loss in Visalia left coach John Lango’s Rams at 0-3 with two games to play before Coast Conference action begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 against visiting San Jose City College. Gavilan takes on the Modesto College Pirates at 1 p.m. Saturday in Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
“Usually the defense has been our strong point, but, against Sequoias, only our offense showed up,” Lango said. “We passed pretty well, and we limited our penalties to five. We played all three quarterbacks.”
Cameron Hernandez threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes.
Trailing 7-2, the Rams briefly led 8-7 when Hernandez hooked up with Andre Cornell on a 70-yard bomb that easily beat the deep defensive effort by the Giants.
Hernandez added a 24-yard touchdown pitch to Doug Stewart with 24 seconds left in the half to slice the deficit to 32-14. The Giants mustered a field goal on the final play of the second quarter for a 35-14 edge at halftime.
Sequoias took a 7-0 lead when Eric Johnson scored the first of four touchdowns by returning the opening kick-off 77 yards.
Gavilan earned a safety for the third consecutive game when defensive end Taylor Coustette tackled the Giants’ fullback in the end zone one play after Rams punter Ryan Costa’s kick went out of bounds at the Giants’ 2-yard line.
Sequoias scored the next 25 points, including touchdown rushes of eight and 16 yards by Johnson.
Gavilan’s final points came with 4:12 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback John Criswell drilled a 47-yard touchdown pass to Excaliber Holder.
Sequoias’ Brant Botill totaled 101 yards on the ground, including one touchdown. Phillip Brandt threw for 106 yards, paced by a 38-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.
Forced to the air early in the contest, Gavilan was limited to 22 rushing yards. Hernandez generated 149 yards passing.
The Coast Conference squads went 1-5 over the weekend.
