The Laney College football team sits atop the Golden Gate Conference standings with a 4-0 record after a scintillating 29-19 victory over visiting Modesto on Nov. 6.

The lofty perch will mean little if the Eagles can't defeat rival Chabot (3-1, 5-4) in their last regular-season game on Saturday 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). The Eagles scored three touchdowns in the second quarter during their comeback.

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.

The best scenario for the Eagles would be to defeat Chabot, a feat it has accomplished four straight times. Laney won last season's meeting 32-0.

A Laney win and the Eagles likely will stay at home. A Laney loss, and the Eagles could miss a bowl altogether, go on the road to play one or stay at home and host their bowl.

It is that confusing.

Bowl aspirations were almost a moot point against Modesto. The Pirates took advantage of a 44-yard punt return and a bad Laney punt-snap to take a 12-0 lead. A 70-yard drive ended in another touchdown and a 19-0 lead with 14:52 left in the second quarter.

Then Laney woke up. The Eagles drove 58 yards in eight plays with Dominique Ferrell plunging in from a yard out

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to cut the lead to 19-7 with 11:39 left. Laney then threw an interception at the Modesto 3 on its next possession, but the defense forced a three-and-out and the ensuing field possession change after the punt put the ball on Modesto's 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.

One possession later, Laney defensive lineman Frank Saro recovered a fumble on Modesto's 31 after Pirate quarterback Greg Panelli lost the ball on a sack. Murphy needed only two plays to find Taulib Ikharo on a 31-yard touchdown strike, and Murphy's two-point conversion run put Laney ahead 22-19 with 52.5 seconds left before intermission.

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.

CC bowl games
Matchups to be determined
Nov. 21
Eagle Bowl at Laney College,
1 p.m.
Bulldog Bowl at College of San Mateo, 1 p.m.
Premier West Bank Bowl at Sierra, 1 p.m.
Grafitti Bowl at Modesto JC, 1 p.m.
Silicon Valley Bowl at Foothill,
1 p.m.
State Center Community College Bowl at Fresno or Reedley (higher ranked team), tba
Dec. 5
S.F. Community College Hawaiian Punch Bowl at CCSF, 1 p.m.