Football drop Valley Conference game to No. 5 Laney

VISALIA - Transportation issues did not stop the No. 5 Laney Eagles from defeating the College of the Sequoias Giants 35-6 on Saturday.

After occurring bus issues in the Turlock area, Laney (6-1, 2-0 VC) sent their starting players on one bus to the stadium.

The Eagles starting quarterback Andrew Ve'e was on that bus, and his 7-yard touchdown pass found wide-receiver Armani Levias in the end zone, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

COS (3-4, 0-2 VC) had a chance to even it up after an interception by Mark Meyniesse, but the Giant offense would go three-and-out.

After a Sequoias punt, the Eagles marched down the field to the Giants 2-yard line. Ve'e kept it, and ran it in for a short yard touchdown. The visitors were now up 14-0, at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, it would be Laney again finding the end zone. Ve'e hooked up with Levias for the second time to score a touchdown. The wide-open 20-yard TD put Laney up 21-0.

The state's fifth-ranked team took a commanding 28-0 lead just before halftime thanks to Ve'e once again. The freshman QB connected with WR Sean Pinson for a 25-yard touchdown strike.

Ve'e would finish 8 of 22 for 122 yards, and 3 touchdowns passing. He also had 22-yards rushing, which included one touchdown.

At halftime, COS only had 40-yards total on 27 plays. Meanwhile, Laney had 232-yards on 39 plays.

The Eagles would score for the final time with two seconds left in the third quarter. Ahmari Davis' 1-yard TD capped off the five play drive, and Laney were up 35-0.

With 5:36 left in the game, COS would finally reach 100-yards total on quarterback Josh Sierra's pass to Courvosier King.

The drive would end with the Giants first touchdown of the game as Jewison Dawkins made a acrobatic catch for the 10-yard TD. Kicker Ryan Buchanan's extra point would be blocked, so Sequoias only finished with 6 points in the defeat.

In their third straight loss, the Giants would end the game with 122-yards total on offense.

In his first start under center this season, Sierra finished 12 of 24 for 82 yards passing. He had one touchdown, and two interceptions on the day.

Giants sophomore running back Elijah Porchia was held in check, as he finished with 35-yards on 14 carries.

COS defensive-end Phoenix Cooper led the team with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He finished with four tackles total.

Sequoias will be on the road next week as they play San Joaquin Delta in Stockton. COS needs two more wins to become bowl eligible. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Lawrence A. DeRicco Field.