Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 15, 1997

PREP FOOTBALL: Loss puts Gunn hopes on hold

The Gunn High football team has had only one goal since workouts began last May--win an El Camino Division title and make the Central Coast Section playoffs. But right now, those plans are on hold. In arguably its toughest defeat in decades, Gunn suffered a gut-wrenching 7-6 defeat at the hands of Milpitas (2-0, 3-2) last Friday at Gunn in an SCVAL El Camino Division matchup. The loss not only puts a dent in any title hopes the Titans had, but now their first winning season in 26 years is also in jeopardy.

For Gunn (1-1, 2-3) to attain that elusive winning season, it must win four of its final five games. And the road begins Friday in a nonleague contest at intra-city rival Palo Alto (4-1) at 3:15 p.m.

Even though it's too early to figure out any scenarios on how Gunn can win a league crown, its character will be on the line Friday against Paly. That's because the remainder of the Titans' season will greatly depend on whether they can bounce back and play hard after the Milpitas loss.

"We have to let the chips fall where they may at the end of the year and just play our game," said a dejected Titan coach Jeff Remington after Friday's loss. "It's time to get back on track and get focused for Paly."

For the past two weeks, the Titans' defense has been a bit inconsistent and was a concern for Remington against Milpitas. But for the first time all year, it was the high-powered Gunn offense that sputtered as the Titans totaled just 186 yards (40 yards rushing) last Friday after averaging 358 total yards per game.

Leading rusher Johnnie Gray (136 yards per game, 12.8 yards per carry) played sparingly against Milpitas with only two carries and has seen limited action for the past two weeks because of a hip injury. But the reason Gunn had a rough time moving the ball last Friday was due to a multitude of reasons.

Playing without Gray on a rain-dampened field may have been a factor, but it was most likely due to a case of the jitters as the Titans were playing in their biggest game in a long time.

"Our guys were so nervous and we had injuries, but that's no excuse," said Remington. "We wanted to establish the running game, it didn't work and we didn't utilize the passing game."

Titan receivers dropped four passes in the first half alone in a game that featured 21 punts. Both defenses played extremely well, yielding a combined 306 total yards in a game that was decided by just two key plays.

With 8:44 left in a scoreless game, Gunn overan its punt coverage--resulting in a 49-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 7-0 Milpitas lead. But the gutty Titans pieced together a seven-play, 68-yard drive in 4:12, which ended in a Pat Marinaro to Brent Bower 5-yard touchdown pass with 3:01 left in the game.

And then the bad luck that's been following the Titans since 1972 reared its ugly head.

Reliable sophomore placekicker Dan Broderick, who was 6 of 7 on PAT's coming into the game, missed left on the extra-point. That left Gunn trailing 7-6. The Titans had a last-ditch effort in the final seconds to win the game, but ran out of downs and time, with no way to stop the clock.

Marinaro finished the game 11 of 32 for 146 yards, with Bower hauling in five receptions for 64 yards. Bower also led a Titan defense that turned in its best effort of the season.

Gunn, however, will have to be at its very best to have any chance in Friday's game against Palo Alto. 

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