Eagles play at Chabot for GGC title
Will host bowl game on Nov. 21; participants uncertain
Scott Strain
Issue date: 11/12/09 Last update: 11/12/09 at 2:57 AM PST
Section: News
The Eagles sit atop the Golden Gate Conference standings today with a 4-0 record after a scintillating 29-19 victory over Modesto Junior College on Nov. 6 in Oakland.
But this lofty perch would mean little if they can't defeat rival Chabot (3-1, 5-4) in the last regular-season game on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Hayward. Game time is 6 p.m.
The Gladiators defeated Cabrillo 20-17 on Nov. 7, a day after Laney wiped out a 19-0 deficit against the defending GGC champion Pirates (2-2, 5-4) with three touchdowns in the second quarter.
The bowl picture is murky for both teams; Laney (7-2) is set to host its second annual Eagle Bowl on Nov. 21 but bowl matchups won't be announced until Sunday, Nov. 15.
Suffice to say, the best scenario would be for the Eagles to defeat Chabot, something the Eagles have done four straight times. The score last season was 32-0.
If Laney wins it would most likely stay at home; lose and the team could still go someplace (or still play at Laney). It is that confusing.
So the Eagles mantra this week is: Just win, Baby.
Bowl aspirations were almost a moot point after first-quarter meltdown against Modesto. The Pirates took advantage of a 44-yard punt return and a bad Laney punt snap and to take a 12-0 lead.
A legitimate 70-yard drive (their only one of the game) led to another Pirates touchdown and a 19-0 lead with 14:52 left in the second quarter. Then Laney started playing football.
The Eagles drove 58 yards in eight plays with Dominique Ferrell plunging in from a yard to cut the lead to 19-7 with 11:39 left.
The next time the Eagles had the ball Modesto intercepted a pass at its own 3-yard line but was unable to move the ball. A 39-yard punt and a 4-yard return by CJ Anderson put the ball at the Pirates' 37. Two plays later, Laney quarterback Jeff Murphy threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Kameron Tate and it was 19-14 with 3:13 left in the half.
On Modesto's next possession, quarterback Greg Panelli was sacked and fumbled, Eagles defensive lineman Frank Saro recovering at the Pirates' 31. Two plays later, Murphy threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Taulib Ikharo and, after Murphy ran in a two-point conversion play, Laney had a 22-19 lead with 52.5 seconds left.
The Eagles never lost the lead.
Taylor Cook intercepted Panelli on Modesto's opening drive of the second half, returning the ball 24 yards to the Pirates' 18. Murphy's 13-yard pass to Justin Wilson advanced the ball to the Modesto 4 and Ferrell scored on the next play for a 29-19 lead.
Laney 25, Merced 20: Linebacker Isaac Brooks made a game-saving fumble recovery on his own 9-yard line with 9.4 seconds left as the Eagles eked out a win in Oakland on Oct. 30.
Ferrell scored the second of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 4-yard run, putting the Eagles ahead by five points with 1:15 left in the game.
The Blue Devils had one last chance from the Laney 49 and Merced quarterback Brandon Crawford threw down the middle with 14.9 seconds left.
Laney defensive back Lance White tipped the ball and Merced's Kyle McMillin grabbed it at the Laney 9.
White and Clement Ani hit McMillin, who was running parallel to the goal line. The ball popped loose and Brooks fell on it.
But this lofty perch would mean little if they can't defeat rival Chabot (3-1, 5-4) in the last regular-season game on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Hayward. Game time is 6 p.m.
The Gladiators defeated Cabrillo 20-17 on Nov. 7, a day after Laney wiped out a 19-0 deficit against the defending GGC champion Pirates (2-2, 5-4) with three touchdowns in the second quarter.
The bowl picture is murky for both teams; Laney (7-2) is set to host its second annual Eagle Bowl on Nov. 21 but bowl matchups won't be announced until Sunday, Nov. 15.
Suffice to say, the best scenario would be for the Eagles to defeat Chabot, something the Eagles have done four straight times. The score last season was 32-0.
If Laney wins it would most likely stay at home; lose and the team could still go someplace (or still play at Laney). It is that confusing.
So the Eagles mantra this week is: Just win, Baby.
Bowl aspirations were almost a moot point after first-quarter meltdown against Modesto. The Pirates took advantage of a 44-yard punt return and a bad Laney punt snap and to take a 12-0 lead.
A legitimate 70-yard drive (their only one of the game) led to another Pirates touchdown and a 19-0 lead with 14:52 left in the second quarter. Then Laney started playing football.
The Eagles drove 58 yards in eight plays with Dominique Ferrell plunging in from a yard to cut the lead to 19-7 with 11:39 left.
The next time the Eagles had the ball Modesto intercepted a pass at its own 3-yard line but was unable to move the ball. A 39-yard punt and a 4-yard return by CJ Anderson put the ball at the Pirates' 37. Two plays later, Laney quarterback Jeff Murphy threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Kameron Tate and it was 19-14 with 3:13 left in the half.
On Modesto's next possession, quarterback Greg Panelli was sacked and fumbled, Eagles defensive lineman Frank Saro recovering at the Pirates' 31. Two plays later, Murphy threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Taulib Ikharo and, after Murphy ran in a two-point conversion play, Laney had a 22-19 lead with 52.5 seconds left.
The Eagles never lost the lead.
Taylor Cook intercepted Panelli on Modesto's opening drive of the second half, returning the ball 24 yards to the Pirates' 18. Murphy's 13-yard pass to Justin Wilson advanced the ball to the Modesto 4 and Ferrell scored on the next play for a 29-19 lead.
Laney 25, Merced 20: Linebacker Isaac Brooks made a game-saving fumble recovery on his own 9-yard line with 9.4 seconds left as the Eagles eked out a win in Oakland on Oct. 30.
Ferrell scored the second of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 4-yard run, putting the Eagles ahead by five points with 1:15 left in the game.
The Blue Devils had one last chance from the Laney 49 and Merced quarterback Brandon Crawford threw down the middle with 14.9 seconds left.
Laney defensive back Lance White tipped the ball and Merced's Kyle McMillin grabbed it at the Laney 9.
White and Clement Ani hit McMillin, who was running parallel to the goal line. The ball popped loose and Brooks fell on it.
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