Bowl-eligible Giants set to host Contra Costa in regular season football finale

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

College of the Sequoias' football team has achieved an important milestone. 

The Giants are bowl eligible for the second year in a row under coach Travis Burkett and staff, and for the third consecutive championship season overall dating back to 2019. The 2020 season was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before 2019, Sequoias had qualified for only four bowls over the previous 20 seasons. The Giants haven't played in three straight bowls since 1996-1998.

"It's a big deal for the college," Burkett said. "We're definitely not where we want to be yet, but thank God we're not where we used to be."

Sequoias will attempt to bolster its bowl resume when it closes the regular season by hosting Contra Costa at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 in a Valley Conference game. Admission to Sequoias' campus-based field is $8, and $5 for seniors and students. 

The Giants enter as the state's No. 25-ranked team by the JC Athletic Bureau, with a 5-4 overall record, a 2-2 mark in conference play and winners of two straight games. Contra Costa is 3-5 overall, 2-2 in the conference and unranked following a 30-14 victory over Sacramento City.

A win likely elevates the caliber of opponent Sequoias will face in a bowl.

"We're focused on beating Contra Costs and going 1-0 this week then letting the chips fall where they may in terms of our postseason opponents this year," Burkett said. "We've asked our guys to do better this week, play better, prepare better, give more in service of trying to beat Contra Costa to play in the best possible bowl.

"You can't put a price on the exposure a bowl game gives to the players who are moving on."

The Giants are coming off a 28-24 victory over then No. 11-ranked Modesto, fueled by a trio of touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) from Nathan Lamb (Tulare Union High).

Lamb got Sequoias rolling when he connected with Tae Marks (Vancouver) for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the team's first play from scrimmage.

Lamb added a 1-yard scoring run in the first quarter and a 27-yard scoring pass to Rolondo Holmes (Tulare Western) in the second quarter while completing 15 of 20 passes overall for 213 yards.

A 31-yard interception return for a touchdown by Michael Wessel (Golden West) put the Giants ahead 28-0 just 22 seconds into the second quarter.

Modesto cut the deficit to four points with 3:06 remaining in the game on Nathan Valdez' 35-yard field goal.

The Pirates got the ball back with 1:05 left to play, but Zavion Battle (Ft. Myers, Fla.) came up with an interception on the game's final play to help Sequoias snap an 11-game losing streak against Modesto.

Despite the loss, Modesto (4-5, 3-1) plays at Fresno City (6-3, 4-0)  this weekend for a berth in the four-team Northern California playoff tournament that goes to the Valley Conference champ.

The Giants can only think about what could have been after losing three games this season where they were ahead or tied in the fourth quarter. That includes a 50-43 overtime non-conference loss to Diablo Valley and a 25-22 conference loss to Reedley where they coughed up leads in the games' final seconds, and a 21-13 conference loss to Fresno City in a game that was tied midway through the fourth quarter. 

Had Sequoias won at least one of those two conference games, it would be in contention this weekend for a NorCal playoff berth.

"As we continue to improve as a staff, especially me, we'll find a way to do better for our kids in those close games," Burkett said. "The reality is we lost three close games. We have to address that, and we have and will continue to do so.

"We're bent on showing our community and fans not what would'a, should'a, could'a, but what this team really is. And the best is yet to come."

Sequoias beat Merced 40-39 in overtime in last season's Valley Center Bowl. It was the Giants first bowl victory since a 40-27 defeat of Siskiyous in the 1991 Pepsi/Sequoia Bowl.