Photo by Maddie Harrell
REDDING, Calif. – The No. 15 Shasta College football team improved to 5-0 on the season after a 20-7 home victory over No. 23 College of the Sequoias Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Knights, who have won their first five games for the fourth time in program history, got a pair of touchdown passes from Hokulani Wickard to Brandon Morris, a pair of field goals from Matthew Ramirez and the state's top 10 defense dominated its opponent once again.
"When you have a defense like that you don't have to match scores," said Shasta College head coach Bryon Hamilton. "So you start playing field position, eating clock and playing to the strength of the team and we're doing a good job at that. I still feel we're capable of putting up points if necessary."
Shasta's Tavian Wallace recovered a fumble deep in Sequoias territory and the Knights took full advantage on the following play with Wickard connecting with Morris over the top for a 29-yard touchdown for an early 7-0 lead.
Sequoias (3-2) drove downfield on the ensuing drive but came away with no points after Torren Calhoun-Ray sacked the Giants' quarterback Gus Villareal for a loss of 10 on third down and Sequoias missed a 33-yard field goal on the next play. Torren Calhoun-Ray had four of the Knights' five sacks on the day, upping their total to 22, which ranks second in the state midway through the season.
"They were talking right before the game about how we were slow and all types and stuff and their coach said they had the best D-line in the state so we had to show them something," Calhoun-Ray said.
Wickard and Morris hooked up one more time in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown and Ramirez later added a 21-yard field goal on the final play of the half for the Knights to lead 17-0 at the break.
Sequoias added its only score on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Villareal to Bryson Allen to cut the lead to 17-7. It's the only touchdown the Knights have allowed in three games at home this season.
Garrison Roach's 26-yard kick return on a pooch kick followed by a James Lee 24-yard run set up Ramirez to split the uprights from 24 yards out to take a 20-7 advantage with 1:28 left in the third.
But Shasta's defense was stingy the rest of the way, allowing Sequoias to complete only one of its final 10 passes and the Giants only converted one third down in the game, which came on the early third quarter touchdown drive.
Running backs Vinny Smith and Matt McCree put the game away as Shasta held the ball the final 3:56 to seal it.
Wickard was 14-of-24 passing for 166 yards while Lee led the Knights in rushing (56 yards), receiving (7 catches, 82 yards) and total yards (135 yards). Morris caught four passes for 28 yards. Smith rushed 13 times for 33 yards. McCree had 49 total yards.
Rashard Budd had eight tackles with 2.5 for a loss and forced a fumble. Detrius Kelsall racked up six tackles and a sack and Calhoun-Ray had all five tackles for a loss as the Knights totaled 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the game.
Adonis Thomas had his first interception of the season.
Shasta has its bye week this week and goes back on the road Oct. 20 at Sierra College in Rocklin.
STANDINGS
Team GVC, Overall
[11] Shasta 0-0, 5-0
[8] Butte 0-0, 3-2
[10] American River 0-0, 3-2
[21] Sierra 0-0, 3-2
Feather River 0-0, 0-5
Siskiyous 0-0, 0-5