Going after a two-game winning streak for the first time in two years, the Gavilan Rams will take on Mid-Empire Conference stalwart Sacramento City College Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Panthers' field.
The Rams (2-2) blanked the Contra Costa Comets 21-0 Saturday, while the Panthers (1-4) dropped a 44-14 contest to the Modesto Pirates. The last Gavilan two-game winning streak was at the end of the regular season in 2006, when the Rams topped DeAnza 17-14 and Cabrillo 20-19.
Sacramento City has a 3-0 record against Gavilan, beginning in 1987 when the Panthers came to Gilroy to defeat the Rams 45-21 in the inaugural Garlic Bowl. Sacramento City defeated Gavilan 41-12 in 1995 and 47-42 in 1996.
The Panthers' lone win this season was a 12-9 nod over Shasta.
"Sacramento City's a big, physical team," Gavilan coach John Lango said. "They've played some very good teams, and I know they are coming into this game saying that this is the one they're going to win. This will be their statement game going into conference play."
Fourth-year Panthers coach Mike Clemens wasn't about to make such a definitive statement.
"Gavilan presents some problems for us," Clemens said. "They're a good team, a lot of talent. We've had lots of tough games and we're saturated with injuries. We've gone to our third quarterback already. We're trying to get healthy. We're a young team and are trying to develop some maturity."
Lango expects the Panthers to use a strong rushing attack to break their losing streak.
"Sacramento City's huge up front and they're likely to try to pound us," Lango said. "They like to run the football anyway. Our defense has been playing better. Arthur Pittman, one of our starting corners, was hurt in the Contra Costa game, but we won't know until the end of the week if he'll be ready for this game."
Lango lauded the continued improvement of freshman wideout Doug Stewart, the Rams' top receiver with 23 catches.
"He's the go-to guy on our offense," Lango said.
Following the upcoming contest, the Rams will open their five-game Coast Conference schedule Saturday, Oct. 18 at DeAnza.
Bob Burch Bob Burch covers sports for South Valley Newspapers.
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Best in the bus business, again
