The Cabrillo College football team has not beaten Hartnell College since 2011.
The Seahawks have also not started a season with a 3-0 record since 1997.
They have a chance to change both of those marks on Saturday.
Fresh off a dominant 23-6 win over Los Medanos College on Sept. 15, Cabrillo (2-0) will host Hartnell (3-0) at Carl Conelly Stadium in a game that will not only serve as the Seahawks’ home opener but their American-Golden Coast Conference opener, too.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Here are a few things to watch heading into Saturday’s showdown:
PASSING WOES
Quarterback play has been the Achilles’ heel of the Seahawks’ offense through the early season.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barron and redshirt sophomore Kendall Williams last week combined for just 99 yards passing on nine completions. The week before in a 38-6 win over Contra Costa College the two combined for 80 net passing yards.
The good news? Cabrillo’s run game has picked up the slack. The one-two punch of freshmen running backs Cole Davis and Cory Glasgow have totaled 316 yards and four touchdowns over the team’s two wins.
Cabrillo should become more balanced offensively with the eventual return of starting quarterback Devon Daich, a Monte Vista Christian alumnus who has been out with an injury to his non-throwing hand. The 6-foot-3 sophomore signal caller last season threw for 1,898 yards and 13 touchdowns while playing at Hartnell.
FAMILIARITY
Cabrillo’s new defensive coordinator Justin Hansen will recognize plenty of faces on the Hartnell sideline. The Santa Cruz High and Cabrillo alumnus served as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator for nearly half a decade before jumping over to head coach Darren Arbet’s coaching staff in the summer.
Hansen has helped the Seahawks’ defense limit opposing offenses to just 12 points over the course of the first two games.
He’ll have a much bigger challenge this week against a Panthers’ offense that is averaging 37.6 points per game over three wins.
GORDON, THE PLAYMAKER
After being held to just one catch for nine yards last week, redshirt freshman receiver Ramon Gordon made three grabs for 82 yards and also carried five times for 56 yards.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound kickback from Graceland University in Iowa is dangerous with the ball in his hands, and should continue to be a factor in the Seahawks’ offense on Saturday.
DAS BOOT
Freshman kicker Kieran Woodley has been as good as gold through two games, nailing a pair of 30-yard field goals and seven extra points to help the Seahawks in their perfect start.
The Aptos High alumnus leads the team in scoring (13 points), and has also landed six of his 13 punts inside the 20.
STRENGTH VS STRENGTH
Cabrillo’s defense has allowed only 110.5 yards per game through the air — the fourth-best mark in the state.
Hartnell is averaging 364 yards passing per game — the third-best mark in the state.
Something’s got to give come Saturday.
Cabrillo defensive backs Desdamon Lake, Shaq Floyd, Joseph Lowe and Bryton Lewi will try to lockdown Hartnell quarterback Isaiah Ariolla-Randalle and receivers Davon Owens and Jeff Wiemer.
The Panthers’ trio of freshmen has produced 46 receptions, 543 yards and six touchdowns.
