The return of sophomore quarterback Kendall Williams provided a much-needed spark to the Cabrillo College passing attack.
The Seahawks will need a similar performance from Williams to stop the streaking Yuba College 49ers.
Kick off is set for 6 p.m. at Carl Conelly Stadium.
Williams, who missed time in Cabrillo’s previous three games because of injury, completed 12-of-20 passes for 279 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 62-17 non-conference win over Redwoods College on Oct. 6.
His stellar performance was a major shot in the arm for Cabrillo’s (3-2) struggling passing game, which is averaging just 190.8 yards per game — the 35th best mark in the state.
Yuba last week improved to 4-2 with a 34-20 win over visiting Monterey Peninsula College. The 49ers totaled 462 yards of offense in their fourth straight win.
Here are a few things to watch for heading into Saturday:
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE, MEET IMMOVABLE OBJECT
Williams’ big passing day brought some balance to an offense that has had little trouble running the ball. Cabrillo is averaging 219.6 yards per game on the ground, the eighth-best mark in the state.
The Seahawks’ three-headed monster of freshmen running backs Cory Glasgow, Cole Davis and Ladale Combs combined for only 119 yards in last week’s win, but the trio surpassed the century mark on just 21 touches — producing an efficient 5.6 yards per carry.
Williams’ addition to the offense only aids Cabrillo’s rushing attack. He totaled 43 yards on eight carries last week. He ran for 79 yards and pair of touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 38-6 win over Contra Costa to open the season.
But Yuba has the fourth-best rush defense in the state. The 49ers are allowing only 85.3 yards per game. Sophomore linebacker Bryce Kasch (10), freshman defensive end Chadi Abdalla (14.5) and sophomore defensive back Wadsen Jean-Baptiste (15.5) are all in the double digits in tackles behind the line of scrimmage for the powerhouse Yuba defense.
GOING DEEP
Cabrillo has not been shy of testing opposing defensive backfields this season. And the Seahawks have been pretty successful while doing so.
Cabrillo is averaging 17 yards per completion, the second-best mark in California.
Freshmen receivers Romello Cook (11.1), Ramon Gordon (21.8), Jaime Martinez (17.5) and Kameron Pleasant (42.0) are all averaging more than 10 yards per catch this season.
FLAGS ON THE FIELD
Cabrillo and Yuba are two of the most penalized teams in California.
Cabrillo is averaging the most penalties per game (15.6), while Yuba averages the fourth-most (13.7) in the state.
The Seahawks have totaled more than 130 yards of penalties in four games this season.
The 49ers have given up more than 100 yards in penalties in each of their last two games.
KEEP AWAY
Cabrillo is ranked second in the state in time of possession, hanging on to the football for 34 minutes, and 51 seconds per game on average.
