REDDING, Calif. – The Shasta College football team gave up 19 straight points to close out the game and lose 47-28 to visiting #18 Reedley College Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Gabe Curtis connected with a streaking Tyler Carey down the right sideline for a 44-yard touchdown catch to put the Knights up 28-27 with 7:24 to go in the third quarter.
But the Knights' offense sputtered down the stretch with two turnovers and two punts on the next four drives while the defense surrendered a touchdown on three of Reedley's next four possessions to fall in the season opener.
Both teams started hot on offense as they matched scores throughout the first half. Tre Foster pulled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Gavin Dobson to start things off and Curtis found pay dirt on a 3-yard quarterback keeper on the ensuing possession. However, both Knight scoring drives were answered on a Josh Magana to Shemar Kirk connection, the first on a 24-yard dart followed by a 5-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.
Shasta (0-1) took a 21-20 lead before half with Curtis finding Carey in the corner of the end zone for 14-yard score. The Knights scored on four of their first five possessions in the game and drove deep into Tiger territory each time, aided kick returns of 44 and 52 yards, respectively from CJ Williams.
"I was very pleased with the offense," Shasta head coach Bryon Hamilton said. "The offensive line played great, Gabe Curtis had a great night and Tyler Carey played very well."
Reedley (1-0) scored on a 5-yard Tamicus Napier run to start the third quarter only to have the 44-yard pitch and catch from Curtis to Carey put Shasta ahead 3 minutes later.
Magana responded by punching it in from 1-yard out and Curtis was intercepted six plays later. Reedley converted two third downs on Shasta personal foul penalties before T'Ky Posey sliced his way for a 23-yard touchdown run to go up 41-28.
Reedley converted 13 of 16 third down conversions in the game.
"We struggled on defense and allowed far too many third down conversions. Some untimely penalties on defense hurt us as well and we need to clean those up," Hamilton said.
Shasta showed life when Bladen Stankey recovered a fumble on its own 40 but Dobson fumbled the following play to give it right back to Reedley. The Tigers capitalized by handing the ball off to Posey six times on the 10-play scoring drive before the 'back rumbled in from 2-yards out to put the game out of reach.
Magana was 15 of 21 for 234 yards with three scores and added 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Posey rushed for 108 yards and two scores and both Kirk and Andrew Dowie went over 100 yards receiving.
Curtis was 10 of 19 passing for 135 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while recording 60 yards rushing and a score on 17 attempts, all team-highs. Carey caught three passes for 60 yards and two scores while Josiah Graham had two receptions for 32 yards. Mark Ward Jr. totaled 50 yards on five touches.
Anthony Slayton forced a fumble and racked up nine tackles to lead Shasta. Noah Benson registered eight tackles and Kaden Bryant and JaQuay Mills each had six tackles.
Shasta plays at San Joaquin Delta on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Photo Credit: Mike Daly