COS Goes on the Road to Delta

It was impossible to understand the significance of Raul Alvarez's
45-yard touchdown pass to Brian Alvarado on the College of the
Sequoias football team when it happened Oct. 26, 2013.
The long scoring play gave the Giants the lead for the final time in a
back-and-forth, 46-45 Valley Conference victory over San Joaquin Delta
in Stockton.
It brought COS' record to 6-1 on the season under then first-year head
coach Irv Pankey, the former NFL standout offensive lineman who had
risen to the top job after 15 seasons as an assistant with the Giants.
A week later, COS held a 28-17 lead on Sierra through three quarters
before surrendering 24 unanswered points en route to a 41-28
conference loss at the Mineral King Bowl.
The Giants haven't had a conference victory since.
COS' conference losing streak stands at 24 entering Saturday's game at
Delta. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Stockton.
The skid has spanned parts of six seasons and three different
configurations of the conference.
When it started, Modesto, Delta, Sierra, American River and Fresno
City were the Giants' conference opponents.
The conference consisted of Modesto, Delta, Laney, Chabot and Fresno
between 2014-2017, and is now made up of Modesto, Delta, West
Hills-Coalinga, Fresno City and Sacramento City.
COS has been outscored by an average of 46.6-23.5 during the skid.
But this could be the week the Giants (1-5, 0-1) bring it to an end.
Under first-year head coach Joe D'Agostino, COS is coming off a 34-21
loss to state No. 10-ranked and Valley Conference preseason favorite
Modesto. The Giants hung right with the Pirates, trailing only 17-14
with 1:25 left in the third quarter before fading in the fourth. COS'
defense held returning All-Northern California running back Devan Bass
to 60 yards on 18 carries, 57 yards below his state fifth-best average
output.
Delta, meanwhile, was getting throttled 49-3 in its conference opener
at Fresno to fall to 0-6 on the season.
The Mustangs are averaging 13.2 points a game while allowing 45.8
points. The Giants average 18.7 points a game and allow 36.6.
COS and Delta have played two common opponents, with the Giants losing
41-6 to Feather River and 34-20 against state No. 11 Chabot, while the
Mustangs lost 63-27 to Feather River and 45-0 to Chabot.
COS' defense could be primed for a big game against a Delta team that
has allowed 31 sacks, thrown seven interceptions and lost eight
fumbles so far. Mustangs quarterback Shad Nordhal was limited to 45
yards passing while tossing two interceptions and getting sacked five
times last week against Fresno City.
The Giants have seven sacks and seven interceptions on the season.
Freshman defensive lineman Corleone Peters (New Orleans) has led the
pass rush with 3.5 sacks, while freshman defensive back Bobby Peele
(Edison) paces the secondary with five interceptions.
Linebacker Jordan Dominguez has been COS' most active defender to date
with 31 tackles (including seven for losses) and 1.5 sacks.
The Giants are at West Hills on Oct. 27 before playing their final
home game at 7p.m. Nov. 3 against Fresno City. COS closes the season
Nov. 10 at Sacramento City.