GILROY -- Gavilan College completed its 2008 football schedule with another cliffhanger Saturday night, dropping a 28-24 decision to the visiting West Valley Vikings at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
The loss leaves the Rams with a 1-4 Coast Conference record and a 3-7 overall mark, including six losses by seven or fewer points.
"The same result as before," Gavilan coach John Lango said. "Our offense definitely ran the ball well. Our defense gave West Valley trouble with our pressure, but we did not tackle very well. A few breakdowns on offense did hurt us. This game was just a reminder of how close the conference was this year."
Connor Farotte, the Rams' freshman quarterback out of Palma High, rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Farotte added one touchdown pass, but his 22nd and final attempt was intercepted at the West Valley 14-yard line with 54 seconds left in the game.
"In such a close game, we relied on our sophomores to make the difference," Vikings coach John Vlahos said.
"Osmar Rodriguez (14 carries for 86 yards and one touchdown) had the game of his life. Doug Webster was efficient at quarterback when he had to be. Gavilan was blitzing and we were fortunate to hit some screens against that pressure."
Gavilan also had strong performances from sophomores, paced by an improving Matt McCoy at running back. The King City product bulled to 93 yards on 15 carries and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Farotte with 12:43 left in the first quarter to give the hosts a 6-0 lead. Sophomore Tim Lango's 46-yard burst up the middle on the first play of the series moved the Rams to the Viking 14.
West Valley, finishing the conference at 3-2 (5-5 overall), responded with a 38-yard march for a tying touchdown after speedster Adrian Loera ran the kickoff back 42 yards. Halfback Hashim Houston opened the drive with a 24-yard scamper and completed the action with a one-yard bolt off left-tackle with 10:19 left in the first quarter. Daniel Dukic's point-after try was blocked to leave the game at 6-6.
West Valley took control with a 16-3 second quarter to lead 22-9 at the intermission.
Webster, facing a fourth-and-nine at the Gavilan 16, shook off a potential sack and sped around the left flank for the 16-yard touchdown run with 9:31 left in the half. Webster's two-point conversion was good for the 14-6 cushion.
Effective running by Matt Perkins helped the Rams move to the West Valley 15 before Michael Blewett converted a 32-yard field goal to make it 14-9 with 4:31 left in the half. West Valley countered with a seven-play drive for another score. Webster, who keyed the drive with a 39-yard pass to Rattanak Muor, scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak and threw a two-point conversion pass to Sam Nix to make it 22-9.
Gavilan's third series of the second half resulted in a touchdown to bring the Rams within six, 22-16. McCoy carried six times before Farotte raced through the middle of the Viking defense to score from 19 yards out with 3:11 left in the third period. Blewett added the PAT.
West Valley went 70 yards for another touchdown, with Rodriguez doing the honors from one yard out with 5:45 to play, making it 28-16 for the Vikes. Gavilan came back quickly after Victor Sapp ran the kickoff back 30 yards to the Ram 44. Farotte slashed off left-tackle, left two defenders sprawling and went 56 yards to paydirt. Farotte then connected with Sapp for the two-point conversion to leave it 28-24.
Gavilan's defensive front, keyed by sophomores VJ Atkins and Jamaal Todd, forced West Valley to punt with 1:35 left. The Rams took over at their own 14, but quickly reached the Viking 38 with five consecutive Farotte completions. The sixth throw was picked off by safety Jordan Gilstrap to end the suspense.
Farotte finished 10-for-22 for 108 yards passing. Backup Nick Kalantari completed his Gavilan career with five incompletions.
Gavilan built a 285-131 edge in rushing, with Lango netting 52 yards on six totes, and Perkins adding 40 yards on seven tries. Webster carried the Vikes offense with 196 yards on a 15-for-26 showing.
Bob Burch Bob Burch is a sports writer for the Morgan Hill Times.
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