Gilroy – The Gavilan Rams have yet to put together a complete
effort, connecting offensive crispness with exhausting defensive
play and special teams efficiency.
Gilroy – The Gavilan Rams have yet to put together a complete effort, connecting offensive crispness with exhausting defensive play and special teams efficiency.
The good news for Ram football fans is that, despite spotty offensive play, the results were in Gavilan’s favor Saturday night. Janall Arthur’s 86-yard return of a botched Diablo Valley point-after for two needed points late in the third quarter sent the host Rams past the Vikings 22-15 in a non-conference thriller at Mustang Stadium.
Trailing 15-8 after the Arthur heroics, the Rams powered to a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The win left coach John Lango’s charges at 3-1, with Diablo Valley slipping to 2-2.
Diablo Valley of the Golden Gate Conference shook off a 6-3 halftime deficit to strike for two touchdowns in the third quarter.
But the momentum of the game changed the Rams’ way on the point-after try. The holder fumbled the snap and lost the ball as the Ram front line stormed toward the ball. Arthur grabbed the ball on a bounce, avoided one tackler at the 20 and then completed the 86-yard jaunt for two points, leaving the Rams down 15-8.
Gavilan followed with touchdown drives of 60 and 20 yards in the final quarter.
El Ray Henry carried on all four plays as the Rams drew even at 15-15 with 11:33 left in the game. Henry, who finished with 129 yards in 21 tries, put the Rams in Vikes territory with a 24-yard rush, then completed the drive with a 30-yard sprint off right tackle. Henry was pulled down at the one and fumbled the ball into the endzone. Ram center Clay Peer was nearby to pounce on the ball for the first score of his collegiate career. Horacio Arteaga added the PAT kick for the 15-15 deadlock.
Two plays into the next Viking series, Diablo Valley’s Rohnell Robinson fumbled at the Vikes’ 33. Arthur grabbed the loose ball and rambled 33 yards to the 20.
Henry again handled the ball on every play, striking for six and three yards before finishing with an 11-yard bull off left guard with 9:28 to play.
Lango replaced starting quarterback Will Kilday with Van De Mark early in the second quarter with the Vikes up 3-0.
Gavilan completes the pre-Coast Conference portion of its schedule with a home date against the College of San Mateo Bulldogs Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mustang Stadium.
