September 6, 2018

Game Notes: COS vs. Chabot

GAME NOTES . . .

College of the Sequoias (0-1) vs. Chabot College (1-0)

Saturday, September 8, 2018—Mineral King Bowl

FIRST GAME: The Giants lost their season opener at Feather River 41-6 while Chabot, playing at home, defeated Shasta 27-7.

SERIES: COS leads 15-13. The first game was in the 1970 state playoffs. The teams played every year through 1977, and played again from 1985-98. They resumed their series in 2014 when Chabot joined the Valley Conference for four years, but they are in another conference now. Chabot has won the last six meetings, including a 45-37 win last year at Visalia in a VC game.

RANKINGS: Chabot is ranked 23^rd in the state and 11^th in Northern California this week by the JC Athletic Bureau. The Giants are unranked.

COACHES: COS has a new head coach in Joe D'Agostino, who is now in his sixth year on the Giants staff. D'Agostino, a native of San Diego, has coached at the community college level the past 16 years, including stints at Reedley, Merced and West Hills Colleges. He was hired full-time at COS in January 2014. New additions to the Giants staff are Cannon Sanchez (offensive coordinator), Nate Sarri (running backs), Ryan DeSantos (offensive line), Mason Ruiz (defensive line), Billy Wright (defensive backs) and Chad Borkey (special teams). Chabot coach Eric Fanene is in his second year as head coach, replacing long-time skipper Danny Calcagno. Fanene is now in his seventh year on the Chabot staff and previously was special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. He is a native of San Jose, and played at Santa Rosa JC before going on to play and earn a bachelor's degree at Winona State University (Minnesota) and a master's from Concordia. Fanene's record as head coach is 3-8.

GLADIATORS: Chabot gained 320 yards last week against Shasta and allowed 288, and forced four turnovers. The Gladiators, like COS, have little experience and are trying to get back to respectability after a 2-8 season in 2017. The top player on offense is lineman Seone Hafoka. On defense, there is a little experience with sophomores Titus Sullivan (DB), Devon Vaenuku (LB) and Hufangahau Moala (DL) returning. Last week's standouts included Isaiah-Nehemiah McGlown, rushing for 97 yards and two scores; quarterback Chayce Akaka, who rushed for 81 and a TD; and Da'Juan Johnson, who caught 7 passes for 62 yards. On defense the standout was Le-Anthony Gray with 2 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

GIANTS: COS is putting a very young team on the field this year, with only one returning starter on offense and two on defense. The inexperience on offense showed as Sequoias had 4 lost fumbles. On offense, running back Andrew Azua was the team's leading rusher last year with 535 yards. Expected to be the top players on offense are receivers Bre'Aun Heights and Mitch Brumfield, along with Blake Wells, who saw a lot of action as a freshman; linemen Andrew Waller and Deondre Chambers, and quarterback Ryan Johnson. Johnson quarterbacked Hanford High to a state championship two seasons ago and has transferred back from San Jose State. On defense, the returning starters are linebackers Jailyn Mays and Jordan Dominguez. Mays earned all-conference honors as a freshman. Others expected to be standouts are free safety Jerome Smith, a transfer from Fresno CC; corner Devontae Massey; defensive end Markeese Jones, back from the 2016 team; and freshman lineman Jacob Martinez. Those who played well last week included center Isaak Ramirez and running back Davontae Green. (84 yards). Heights caught 5 passes for 66 yards, including the only Giants' score. Last week COS gained 355 yards and allowed 487.

NOTES : A total of eight COS opponents are ranked statewide, including Chabot. Fresno is 12^th in the state and 6^th in NorCal, Siskiyous is 19^th in the state and 7^th in NorCal; Sacramento 20^th in the state and 8^th NorCal; Modesto 21^st in the state and 9^th NorCal, Feather River 22^nd in the state and 10^th NorCal, West Hills 24^th in the state and 12^th NorCal, and Santa Rosa 37^th in the state and 17^th NorCal. Sequoias will host Siskiyous next week in an 11 a.m. game…COS Players of the Week for the Feather River game were Isaak Ramirez (offense), Corleone Peters (defense) and Adrian Bryant (special teams)…the Giants will play their next two home games at 11 am, in an effort to accommodate travel for the visiting team. The last two homes games, both conference games, will be at 7 p.m.