Gavilan drops season opener to De Anza

GILROY – The 2024 Gavilan College football season got off to a rough start as the Rams suffered a 49-14 loss to visiting De Anza College on Saturday at Gilroy High School's Mustang Stadium.

Gavilan actually led early in the contest, getting the game's opening touchdown at the 5:46 mark in the first quarter. Quarterback Mason Pound connected with Ja'Roi Hardwick for a 33-yard TD reception to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.

But from that point, it was all De Anza. The Mountain Lions responded with seven straight touchdowns to run away with the win.

Gavilan closed out the game with a nine-yard run for a touchdown from Angel Marquez with 1:53 left in the fourth. Marquez ran eight times for 52 yards while Houstyn Lee-Perry led Gavilan with 18 carries for 80 yards.

Pound completed 6 of 15 passes for 52 yards including a pair of receptions to Hardwick for 41 yards.

Gavilan racked up the stats on defense. Taku Diamond led the Rams with 15 tackles and Chase Davis had 10.

The Rams are back in action next Saturday (Sep. 14) when they travel to College of the Siskiyous for a 1 p.m. non-conference game.