GILROY -- A Coast Conference title appears unlikely this season for the Gavilan College footballers after falling 9-3 to the San Jose City College Jaguars at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
The Jaguars turned nine early points into a 2-0 conference record. Gavilan will bring an 0-2 record into Saturday's 7 p.m. home date with conference favorite Monterey Peninsula College.
"That's been the story of our life," Gavilan coach John Lango said after watching his club fail to convert the few opportunities it had to score a go-ahead touchdown in a mistake-filled effort from both squads.
San Jose managed just five first downs in the game, yet held a 9-0 cushion with 8:56 left in the first quarter.
The Jaguars had a three-and-out opening series after Gavilan kicked off to open play. Shosuke Kawamoto's punt was downed at the Ram one. Halfback Tim Lango was stopped in the end zone on the first play for a safety with 12:43 left in the quarter.
San Jose expanded on its 2-0 lead after Ram quarterback Connor Farotte fumbled during a sack, setting the Jaguars up at the Gavilan nine. Ryan Leggett found an unmarked Marcus Womack for a three-yard touchdown toss on third down. Kawamoto ended the San Jose City scoring with a PAT kick.
Gavilan used a pair of 35-yard pass plays from Nick Kalantari late in the first quarter to push the offense into the red zone. Kalantari's lofted pass along the right sideline was pulled down by Jared Van Lehn at the San Jose 42. The Rams' quarterback then solved a third-and-13 problem by finding a streaking Matt Perkins behind the Jaguar secondary for a 35-yard gain to the San Jose 10.
The Rams would go no further, though, forcing a successful Michael Blewett field goal from 26 yards out with 14:18 left in the half.
Gavilan's best opportunities to take the lead came in the third quarter. On separate drives, the Rams reached the San Jose 19 and six yard lines.
Perkins, with 8:46 left in the third, powered for 11 yards to the San Jose City 19. A three-yard sack slowed the Ram drive and Blewett's 33-yard field goal sailed wide.
Clayton Miller recovered a San Jose City fumble at the Jaguar 26 with 5:14 left in the third. But a chance to take a lead in the game as well as conference standings evaporated on the series.
Farotte scampered three yards for a first down at the 14, and then tossed a pass to Perkins at the six. Facing second-and-2, the Rams went to the air and Farotte, under pressure, was flagged for intentional grounding at the 22. An ensuing 12-yard sack resulted in the Rams being forced to punt. San Jose City punted four times in the fourth quarter, but three of those boots pinned Gavilan inside its own 15. Gavilan did not reach Jaguar territory in the final 17 minutes of play.
Gavilan finished with a 197-151 edge in total offense, and a 10-5 advantage in first downs. Gavilan's ground game was slowed by 15 plays resulting in negative yardage.
Kalantari threw for 107 yards with a 7-of-16 night, while Farotte was 7-of-13 passing for 47 yards.
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