COS Football vs. Butte Game Notes

GAME NOTES . . .

College of the Sequoias vs. Butte College

Saturday, September 4, 2021—COS Campus Field

RECORDS: In the spring of 2021, Sequoias played two games—both against Antelope Valley—and lost both. Butte did not compete. In their last full season, 2019, the Giants were 6-5 and the Roadrunners 8-3.

SERIES: This is only the third game in history between the schools. Frist meeting was in a 1992 non-conference game, won by Butte 29-27. The other meeting was actually the last game Butte has played, when they defeated COS 38-28 in the 2019 Gridiron Classic.

RANKINGS: In the pre-season JC Athletic Bureau poll, Butte is ranked 10^th in the state and 5^th in Northern California. Sequoias is ranked 35^th in the state and 16^th in NorCal.

COACHES: COS head coach Travis Burkett, is now in his second season, having been hired in April of 2020. Burkett has 15 prior seasons as an assistant at the Division 1 level, most recently as the running backs coach at Nevada-Las Vegas. He was also an assistant at Cornell for 10 seasons. Travis starred at San Luis Obispo High before advancing to St. Mary's College on scholarship, where he earned a degree in history. Burkett is the 22^nd head coach in COS history. Butte coach Robby Snelling is in his 16^th season on the staff and his fifth year as head coach. Snelling, a native of Burney, played at Butte in 1997-98 and went on to obtain degrees at Boise State and Arizona State. His career record is 22-11, with a league championship in the 9-2 season of 2018. In each of his three previous seasons, Snelling has led the Roadrunners to post-season bowl games. Butte defensive line coach Kevin York played at COS in 1991-92.

ROADRUNNERS: Butte probably has a bit more experience in returning players than many schools. Running back Johnny Williams had two touchdowns vs COS in the 2019 bowl game. Also returning are running back Jace Villapania, right tackle Charles Rutledge, and quarterback Brian Harper.  On defense, safety Zack Macintyre is a returning starter as is lineman Steven Bryant. Top freshmen are tight end Austin York (whose dad is the defensive line coach), offensive lineman Sebastian Sias, kick returner Tizell Lewis, defensive back Joseph Sapp, defensive linemen Lathun Snipes and Junior Finau, and DB Jamal McMurrin, a transfer from Washington State.

GIANTS: It is mostly a new team for Sequoias, but there are a few notable returning players. Receiver Bryson Allen was the Valley Conference offensive MVP in 2019 and an all-state selection. Allen caught 38 passes for 940 yards with 11 touchdowns. He caught a touchdown pass in COS' first nine games, and 10 of the 11 games for the season. Also returning are receivers Tariq Walker, Marc Jean-Louis and Willie Neal,  quarterbacks Nathan Lamb and Tate Robards, who played in the spring with COS; returning all-conference offensive linemen Miguel Madrigal and T.J. Parker, defensive back Anthony Cervantes, and running back/receiver Jaedyn Pineda. Some of the freshmen/newcomers that have impressed coaches include receivers Wailoa Manuel, Taryn Rubalcava and Josh Williams; running backs John Friend, Kelsey Demps and Caden Shafer; offensive lineman Willie Asalele; defensive linemen Michael Machado and Aaron Tejeda; tight ends/fullbacks Chris Camy, Jayson Littlejohn (transfer from Fresno City), Jace Williams, Henry Williams and Anthony Valencia (transfer from Sacramento State); inside linebackers Isaak Guzman, Dorrian Felix and Lonnie Wessel; outside linebackers Joshua Blalock, Jordan Harris, Jayden Sullivan, Jacob Torres, and Nicholas Regalado; and defensive back Julian Espinoza. Alberto Nunez will handle kickoffs and extra points and Mike Melanson will be the punter. Neal will be the primary kickoff and punt returner. The Giants have experience at quarterback and receivers, and Burkett feels the offensive line will eventually be strong and that there is a good group of defensive backs.

NOTES: This is only the third game COS game in history and we ask your indulgence in some of the by-necessity temporary facilities.…nine COS opponents are ranked in the state's pre-season poll. Next week's opponent, San Mateo, is ranked No. 1. Others include Modesto (4^th), Fresno (12^th), Shasta (22^nd), Diablo Valley (25^th tie), Sacramento (27^th), San Joaquin Delta (33^rd), and Reedley (37^th tie…daytime football will now be the norm for COS, as there are no plans to install lights at the field. Only the last game of the season, at Modesto, will be at night…next home game is in two weeks against San Joaquin Delta, a 1 pm start.

VALLEY CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, September 3

Modesto @ Laney

Saturday, September 4

Reedley @ San Joaquin  Delta, 1 pm

American River @ Sacramento, 1 pm

Shasta @ West Hills, 1 pm

Fresno @ Chabot, 2 pm

Butte @ COS, 3 pm

Friday, September 10

West Hills @ Diablo Valley, 6 pm

Saturday, September 11

COS @ San Mateo, 1 pm

Siskiyous @ Reedley, 1 pm

Sacramento @ San Francisco, 1 pm

Santa Rosa @ Fresno, 5 pm

Sierra @ Modesto, 6 pm

COS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

Sept.      4        Butte                           1 pm

Sept.    11        @ San Mateo              1 pm

Sept.    18        San Joaquin Delta       1 pm

Sept.    25        @ Shasta                     1 pm

Oct.       2        Diablo Valley              2 pm

Oct.     16        Fresno                         1 pm

Oct.     23        @ West Hills               1 pm

Oct.     30        @ Sacramento             1 pm

Nov.      6        Reedley                       1 pm

Nov.    13        @ Modesto                 6 pm