Giants to host state-ranked Diablo Valley on campus field

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

After an unexpected weekend off, College of the Sequoias' football team is set to return to action against another state-ranked opponent.

The Giants will host Diablo Valley -- ranked 11th in both the JC Athletic Bureau and California Community College Sports Information Association state polls -- at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at Sequoias' campus field. Admission is $5, and fans are encouraged to bring chairs as bleacher seating is limited.

Sequoias had its Sept. 25th game at No. 23 Shasta postponed because of the Fawn Fire that ravaged the Redding area. A makeup date is being negotiated for after the regular season but before the state's bowl games.

Against Diablo Valley, the Giants (1-2) will look to build off their first win under new coach Kevin Burkett, a 40-19 defeat of San Joaquin Delta on Sept. 18.

And that figures to be a challenging task against a Vikings' team that enters 3-0 behind one of the most prolific offenses in the state.

Diablo Valley is averaging a state fourth-best 43.3 points per game and state 11th-best 440.3 yards per game, led by the trio of quarterback Dylan Graham (46 of 67 for 513 yards and six touchdowns), running back Jaysn Wade (34 carries, 218 yards, three touchdowns and a 6.4-yards-per-carry average), and receiving John Giagiari (13 catches, 235 yards, four touchdowns).

Sequoias counters with a defense that forced four turnovers against Delta -- interceptions by Benjamin Haywood (Cape Coral, Fla.) and Sam Sholty (Milwaukee, Wis.) and fumble recoveries by Isaak Guzman (Porterville) and Lonnie Wessel (Golden West). The Giants have received contributions from many as 34 different players have recorded at least one tackle, led by linebackers Michael Gray (Fort Myers, Fla.), Guzman, Josh Blalock (Pearland, Texas), Jayden Sullivan (Redwood) and Wessel, as well as defensive backs Julian Espinoza (Tulare Union), Zechariah Newsby (Orange Park, Fla.) and Jimmy Pouba (Chicago), who all have made at least seven stops.

Offensively, the Giants are averaging 20.3 points and 332.7 yards per game while playing with two quarterbacks: Nathan Lamb (Tulare Union) and Tate Robards (Broken Arrow, Okla.). 

Both have had their moments. Lamb has completed 30 of 48 passes (62.5 percent) for 415 yards and four touchdowns, while Robards is 20 of 37 (54.1 percent) with one touchdown. But both have also turned over the football as Lamb has thrown four interceptions (including two in scoring territory against Delta) and Robards has thrown two interceptions (one in opposition territory). 

"We're challenging those guys," Burkett said ahead of the postponed game against Shasta. "They are both good enough. They have played and will continue to play until one decides he's not going to let the other guy play."

The Giants will be out to replicate the ground game they displayed against Delta, when a 10-deep rotation of offensive linemen paved the way for a 43-carry, 248-yard afternoon. Jaedyn Pineda (Mt. Whitney) and John Friend (Pearland, Texas) each flirted with 100-yard rushing performances as Pineda finished with 14 attempts for 92 yards, and Friend carried 12 times for 80 yards. They scored one touchdown each.

"That's encouraging in terms of the type of program we want to have here," Burkett said. "Our offensive staff should be really excited. One thing we don't do here is dumb it down. I continue to be impressed with what our coaches teach and what our players retain and apply."

After playing Diablo Valley, Sequoias will have a bye week. 

The Giants are scheduled to open Central Valley Conference play Oct. 16 against Fresno City (3-1). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Sequoias campus field.

The Rams are currently ranked 10th in the state by the JCAB and No. 9 by the CCCSIA.