PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – The Shasta College football team couldn't recover from being outscored 19-0 in the second quarter to drop a 25-13 road contest at Diablo Valley College Friday night.
The Knights outgained the Vikings 360-296 on the night and held the edge on first downs (23-15), third downs, penalties (7-13), ran 88 plays and held the ball for more than 8 minutes longer. They also shut out the Vikings in the second half.
But Shasta turned the ball over three times on three interceptions and missed a field goal in addition to having two touchdowns called back due to penalties.
"The game was frustrating in that sense and didn't come home with a victory," Shasta College head coach Bryon Hamilton said. "Too many mistakes in the red zone once again. We need to fix those problems quickly."
Both teams scored on their opening possession. DVC struck first on a 17-yard pass but Eli Cortinas gave the Knights a 7-6 lead with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to cap a 12-play drive that lasted nearly five minutes.
DVC's Sean Davis scored on a 5-yard rushing touchdown early in the second and Jerry Johnson found Damani Burrell for a 68-yard touchdown pass and Elijah Alonso on a 24-yard pitch and catch late in the period to jump ahead 25-7.
In between the second DVC touchdown, Shasta had two three-and-outs and its 12-play drive stalled with a missed 28-yard field goal.
Shasta's first drive of the second half resulted in a Levi Durrell interception in the red zone. The Knights couldn't capitalize on a muffed punt on their next possession, turning the ball over on downs despite running three plays from inside the DVC 5-yard line.
"Our schedule continues to get tougher so we need to take advantage of our opportunities when we get them," Hamilton said.
Eli Wehbey was intercepted late in the fourth. Jason Abbey scored a rushing touchdown in the final minutes.
Wehbey completed 16 of 36 passes for 199 yards and an interception while Durrell was 4 of 14 for 8 yards and two picks. Abbey rushed 19 times for 79 yards and a score and Cortinas pitched in with 20 rushing yards on 10 carries and added 17 receiving yards on two catches. Jahari Johnson led the Knights in receiving with 142 yards on 11 receptions. The 11 catches tied for fifth-most in a single game in school history with two other players – R. Clayton (1997 vs. Santa Rosa) and T. Sharp (1989 vs. College of the Redwoods).
Shasta's defense held DVC to 36 yards rushing on 21 attempts and added four sacks, including three from Jabrayan Richburg and a half-sack from both Javon Edwards and Dominick Menegas. Gavin Skerik had a team-best six tackles, Jaylin Watson, Edwards and Richburg each had five tackles. Skerik also had an interception while Drake Granberry forced a fumble.
Shasta (1-2) plays at home on Saturday against College of the Sequoias at 6 p.m.
"The best way to rectify the situation is to get back to work with a great week of practice and then play a great game at home against a very good COS team," Hamilton said.