COS football falls at Chabot

By Nick Giannandrea

For College of the Sequoias Athletics

College of the Sequoias' football team couldn't contain Chayce Akaka.

The sophomore quarterback threw four touchdown passes, and also rushed for 80 yards while leading Chabot to a 38-6 nonconference victory over the Giants on Saturday in Hayward.

Akaka's first touchdown, a 52-yard strike to Alan Riggins, put the Gladiators (1-1) ahead 10-0 with 6:24 to play in the first quarter.

Akaka connected with Tanner Wright for a 34-yard score in the second quarter, then passed for two more touchdowns in the third -- 45 yards to Wright and 24 yards to Khri Harris -- as Chabot opened a 31-0 lead.

Joseph Broussard's 3-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter capped the Gladiators' scoring.

COS (1-1) got on the board early in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Gus Villareal (Dinuba High) to Bryson Allen (Tulare Union).

Villareal was held in check by the Chabot defense one week after being selected the Northern California Offensive Player of the week for his 374-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 30-24 overtime victory over Feather River on Sept. 7. Villareal completed 8 of 21 passes for 102 yards while being intercepted twice by the Gladiators.

Chabot also controlled the Giants' ground game, limiting feature running back Davonte Green (Hammond, La.) to 29 yards on nine carries.

Sergio Pena (Selma) was COS' leading receiving with three catches for 40 yards.

The Giants were held to 201 yard overall after going to 507 against Feather River.

Defensively, Anthony Cervantes (Tulare Western) led the way for the Giants with eight tackles, including one for a loss. Noah Wright (Lemoore) had seven tackles, while Bobby Peele (Edison) had an interception for the second straight week.

COS returns to action Sept. 21 when it travels to Weed to face College of the Siskiyous (0-2). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

The Eagles have been outscored by a combined score of 93-7 against two state top 15-ranked teams. Siskiyous lost 44-7 against San Mateo, which is ranked Nos. 4 and 5 in the state's two major polls, on Sept. 7, and was defeated 49-0 by Fresno City (ranked seventh and 13th) on Sept. 14.

Siskiyous was ranked No. 25 in the JC Athletic Bureau's Coaches Poll before its loss to Fresno. COS received votes in both polls before its loss to Chabot.

The Giants' next home game is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 28 against Santa Rosa from Giant Chevrolet and Cadillac Mineral King Bowl.

MEN'S SOCCER

COS surrendered a pair of own goals during a 2-2 tie against state No. 12-ranked Antelope Valley on Sept. 13 in Lancaster.

The Giants (0-2-2) opened a 2-0 lead as Cesar Melgar (Monache) scored off a Kevin Barajas (Porterville) assist, and Alexis Cabrera (Redwood) converted off a feed from Anthony Minguela (Tulare Union) in the first half.

The Marauders (3-1-1) tied it before halftime on two COS own goals.

There was no scoring in the second half.

The Giants have a busy upcoming week, when home matches at 4 p.m. Sept. 17 against Bakersfield at Riverway Sports Park, 2 p.m. Sept. 20 against Victor Valley at COS and noon Sept. 21 against Siskiyous at COS.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Taylor Perez assisted on goals by Martha Mora and Serena Ramirez as state No. 17-ranked Cuesta downed host COS 3-0 on Sept. 13.

The Cougars (5-0-0) also received a goal from Alley Andrade.

Joana Guerra (Woodlake) had all four of COS' shots on goal, but failed to convert.

Ciana Koo (Woodlake) made seven saves for the Giants (2-2-1).

COS will host Cerro Cosa at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 and Siskiyous at 10 a.m. Sept. 21.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

COS (6-3) was idle last weekend.

The Giants are set to open Central Valley Conference play at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at West Hills-Coalinga.

COS' first home match of the season is Sept. 20 against Porterville. The match from Porter Field House is set for 6 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Giants' men's and women's teams were off. They return to action Sept. 21 in San Bernardino.