Giants fight tough in defeat against San Joaquin Delta

For the second straight week, the College of the Sequoias football team put their opponents on upset alert, but could not hang on for the victory.

San Joaquin Delta defeated the Giants 43-38 at the Mineral King Bowl on Saturday.

Delta running back Izaiah Williams capped off a seven play, 79-yard opening drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown.

Phillip Adams and Gus Villareal answered with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing COS drive. The duo hooked up for a 38-yard touchdown to even the score at 7-7.

The Giants kept the first half score close after trading scoring drives with the Mustangs. COS went into their locker room trailing 21-17 at halftime.

Sequoias snatched the lead when Villareal found Adams for the duo's second touchdown of the night. The 15-yard score put the Giants up 24-21 with 4:57 left in the third quarter.

Delta equaled with a 23-yard field goal and even the score at 24-24 with a 5-yard Wayne Brooks Jr. rushing touchdown.

COS once again retook the lead by way of Villareal's arm. This time the freshman quarterback hit  Blake Wells in stride for a 39-yard strike giving the Giants a 31-30 lead.

The Mustangs quickly answered back with two touchdowns of their own in the fourth quarter bringing the score to 43-31.

Elijah Dailey returned a kickoff 77-yards for the Giants with 1:40 remaining in the game, but COS squandered its ensuing onside kick.

Villareal finished 19-28, for 243-yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Adams caught two of Villareal's touchdowns and finished with 84-yards on five receptions.

Sequoias host Chabot for its home season finale on Nov. 4. Sophomore Day at the Mineral King Bowl is scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m.