While it took overtime, Gavilan snapped a 21-game losing streak two weeks ago with a win over Yuba. It’s been 14 years since the Rams have beaten Hartnell — 12-7 in 2010.

The two teams meet again at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.

Hartnell, which is winless this season, had its identity was stripped from them in the first half of their season opener when quarterback Adam Shaffer suffered what is believed to be a season-ending knee injury.

Shaffer accounted for three touchdowns in the first half of that opener. In his absence over the last 10 quarters, the offense has produced just four touchdowns

Slowly, the Panthers (0-3) are finding themselves offensively as Dominic Chavez gets reacclimated to the quarterback position after being a defensive back/receiver last year.

Soledad’s single-game record holder for passing yards, Chavez gave Hartnell a spark in last week’s 28-13 loss to Los Medanos in the first half, throwing a touchdown pass to Salinas’ Isaiah Durate to give them an early lead.

The Panthers ran an up-tempo attack last Saturday that clicked in the first half. Putting four full quarters together becomes the priority in altering their early season struggles.

Hartnell was effective running the ball with a trio of backs splitting time, as Justin Pascone, Damion Gonzales and Elijah Huerta combined for 170 yards on the ground.

After committing just three turnovers in their first two games, the Panthers put their defense in a challenging spot by turning it over six times in the loss to 3-1 Los Medanos.

The losses Hartnell has absorbed this year are to three teams a combined 10-2. Having allowed 111 points in its first two games — 66 in the first half, the defense gave up just 13 points in the first half last week.

Elijah Perkins is coming off a 10-tackle effort for Hartnell, equaling his total from his first two games. Isias Morin has 18 tackles on the season, while defensive back Jonathan Gray had his first pick of the fall.

Houstyn Lee-Perry is averaging 103 yards a game on the ground for Gavilan (1-3). Linebacker Taku Diamond has a conference-high 49 tackles through four games, while defensive lineman James Mamaiapili leads the conference in sacks with 3.5.

A common opponent is 4-0 De Anza of Cupertino, which beat Gavilan 49-14 and Hartnell 45-12. The Rams have scored just 28 points in their three losses.

MPC at Siskiyous

One of the biggest surprises in the first quarter of the season has been Siskiyous, which has already surpassed last year’s entire win total with its 3-1 start.

The Eagles rolled Yuba 50-18 last week, with their one loss coming against American Golden Coast Conference rival San Jose City. In their three wins, they are averaging 40.1 points a game.

Saturday they host MPC (3-0) for a 1 p.m. game in Weed.

While quarterback Andreus Smith is averaging just 144 passing yards a game for Siskiyous, he’s tossed 10 touchdowns and is averaging nearly 40 yards on the ground.

Tailback Bryson McFall has rushed for just under 300 yards in four games for the Eagles, while defensive lineman Zaveon Jones has a team-high five rushing touchdowns.

Cody Huntsinger, who collected 10 tackles two weeks ago, is coming off a monster game for Siskiyous on defense with eight tackles, a sack and an interception.

On the heels of a bye week, the defending three-time American Golden Coast Conference champion Lobos are 3-0 for the first time since returning from the pandemic.

While MPC coach Ronnie Palmer has had some big wins in his first three seasons, knocking off Redwoods two weeks ago might have been his biggest nonconference win.

Sophomore tailback Kieryus Boone has gotten off to an explosive start with three 100 plus yard rushing efforts for MPC, leading the conference with 467 yards and five touchdowns.

Splitting time at quarterback, Eric Gibson shares the conference lead in touchdown passes with six, throwing for just under 170 yards a game. Nakoa Villanueva is averaging nearly 100 receiving yards a game for the Lobos.

Seaside graduate Glenn Beal produced his best game as a Lobo with five tackles, while former Pacific Grove linebacker Noah Garry collected five tackles and his second interception of the season.

Palma product Drew Molinari added an 82-yard interception, as MPC forced four turnovers against Redwoods, giving them 13 through three games.

A strength for the Lobos is their kicking game where Salinas graduate Isaac Mancera is 3-of-3 in field goal attempts and 8-of-8 in extra points, sending all of his kickoffs into the end zone.

Special teams in general have been a plus for MPC, which has a 72-yard kickoff return for six from Devin Ellison. MPC’s defense also has a pick-six this year.