REDDING, Calif. – Shasta College's football team lost 40-37 in overtime at home to College of the Sequoias Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Shasta's 29-yard field goal from Cole Crossen was the only score in the fourth quarter to tie it at 34 midway through the period. In extra time, Shasta reached the Sequoias 12 but had to settle for a 32-yard field goal to go up three. But the Giants' first overtime play resulted in a 25-yard touchdown run from wide receiver Jaylen Laudermilk to hand the Knights the home loss.
"Our guys played a heck of a game," Shasta College head coach Bryon Hamilton said. "Unfortunately, we came up short in overtime."
Shasta (1-3) managed 261 yards of offense and struggled to move the ball on the ground, recording a minus-27 yards rushing on 26 attempts, aided by four sacks. Quarterback Eli Wehbey threw for 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 30 of 42 passing. The 30 completions were tied for third-most in a single game for the Knights all-time.
The Knights scored 21 straight points in less than 5 minutes in the first half to take a 24-7 lead. Eli Cortinas capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, Jaylin Watson intercepted Reilly Garcia deep into Sequoias' territory, Jahari Johnson hauled in a 5-yard pass from Wehbey three plays later and Rashawn Boone had a 52-yard pick-6 to put Shasta up three scores.
Sequoias and Shasta traded touchdowns one more time before the break. Garica ran it in from 3-yards out and Jaylen Thomas scored on a 1-yard run with 25 seconds left to make it 31-14 at half.
The Giants scored three straight times in the third, all on the ground with John Friend scoring on a 25-yard rush and Garcia finding pay dirt twice from 1-yard out to lead 34-31.
But Shasta put together a 14-play drive capped by Crossen's 29-yard field goal to tie it. Wehbey completed 8 of 9 passes on that drive but was sacked on second-and-12 at the Sequoias 17 to back the Knights out of the red zone.
In overtime, the Knights only came away with three points once they reached the red zone again and the Giants found the end zone for the game-winner. Shasta reached the red zone six times, scoring three touchdowns and three field goals – 30, 29 and 32 yards from Crossen.
"It's frustrating because we know we're a good team; we just need to play consistent football for four quarters," Hamilton said. "We haven't done that yet. We will continue to work and we will get better. I'm proud of our efforts and I'm looking forward to getting back at it this week."
Six Shasta players had at least four catches in the game. Johnson finished with eight catches for 50 yards and a score, Hakeem Lowe caught five passes for 50 yards and Pete Pennington had four catches for 50 yards. Cortinas led the Knights in rushing with 25 yards on 11 carries and also caught four passes for 27 yards.
Javon Edwards had a team-best eight tackles on defense for Shasta and had 1.5 tackles for a loss. Gavin Skerik had six tackles, Boone added five tackles and an interception, Kaden Bryant had five tackles and Chase Barnes had a sack and forced fumble.
Shasta (1-3) hosts Sacramento City College Saturday at 6 p.m. to wrap up non-conference play.
GAME NOTES
Jahari Johnson's 31 catches ranks second in the state, four off from the lead … those 31 catches are tied for 40th among single season records for the Knights … his 363 receiving yards ranks 10th in the state … Eli Wehbey ranks fourth in the state in completion (85) and attempts (137) and ninth in yards (963) … Wehbey's 177 career completions ranks 12th all-time for the Knights.