Football drop first conference game in Modesto

MODESTO - The Giants struggled to find any rhythm in their opening Central Valley conference game against Modesto, as they were defeated by the Pirates 48-24.

Sequoias (3-3, 0-1 CVC) quarterback Thomas Wilson fumbled on COS' first possession, allowing Modesto (4-2, 1-0 CVC) to take over at their 41. Pirates running back Jay Green started the scoring for Modesto when his two-yard touchdown gave MCJ a 7-0 lead.

The Pirates blew the doors open in the first quarter when quarterback Wyatt Clapper delivered back-to-back touchdown passes to go up 20-0. Green punched in his second rushing touchdown and MCJ was quickly up 27-0 in the first quarter of play.

COS finally got on the board in the second quarter after their nine-play, 56 yard drive stalled at Modesto's 19 yard line. Ryan Buchanan drilled a 36-yard field goal to cut the Pirates lead to 27-3.

Modesto extended their lead when Blake Smallie recovered a COS fumble and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. The 34-3 lead for the host did not  last long as Clapper evaded the Giant defense for a 29-yard scoring scramble before halftime. The Pirates took a commanding  41-3 lead into the break.

Trying to find a spark in the second half, Sequoias head coach Irv Pankey took Wilson out and replaced him with sophomore quarterback Josh Sierra.

Wilson finished 11 of 23, for 56 yards.  

Sierra threw for 17 yards and rushed for 26 yards on his first drive. His effort set up running back Elijah Porchia for a 16-yard touchdown. COS was still down 41-10 in the third quarter.

Porchia had 111 yards on 21 carries in addition to the touchdown.

After another Modesto touchdown to up the lead 48-10, Sierra worked against a defense that looked comfortable with the lead. The Kingsburg High graduate showed great potential when he found Damar Chanis twice for a 40 and 50 yard touchdown.

That was all the Pirates defense would allow on a windy night, getting their first conference win 48-24.

Sierra's second half performance gave COS coaches something to think about. The sophomore had 49 yards on the ground and threw for 133 yards with two touchdowns.

Linebacker Devonte Jones led the Giants with 2.5 tackles for loss.

Free safety Ron LaForce got his team-leading fifth interception as he picked off Clapper in the fourth quarter.

COS will return home Saturday Oct. 22 to host the seventh-ranked Laney Eagles. Laney is 5-1 after defeating San Joaquin Delta 57-34. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Giant-Chevrolet Mineral King Bowl. The game will be live streamed in partnership with COS Athletics and "The Campus" newspaper.