No. 12 Giants' football set to host No. 4 San Mateo at 11 a.m., Sept. 10

JC FOOTBALL

What: San Mateo at College of the Sequoias

When: 11 a.m. Sept. 10

Where: COS field

Rankings: San Mateo No. 4, COS No. 12 by the JC Athletic Bureau

Records: San Mateo 1-0, COS 1-0

Admission: $8 general, $5 seniors and students

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

College of the Sequoias football coach Travis Burkett acknowledges the Giants' next opponent -- JC Athletic Bureau No. 4-ranked San Mateo -- poses a daunting challenge.

Just like his team faced last week when Sequoias opened the season with a 39-33 victory at then No. 8 Butte.

Like they will a week from now when the Giants travel to Stockton to face a San Joaquin Delta team receiving votes in both major California Community College football polls.

And like they will Sept. 30 at No. 13 Diablo Valley, and Oct. 15 at home against No. 20 Fresno City. 

And ...

"Any week that we play football here at COS, we play a good football team," Burkett said. "People want to differentiate tiers in California Community College football, but we're all the same to me. This is an opportunity for us to once again improve on playing winning football."

Sequoias (1-0) is set to host San Mateo (1-0) at 11 a.m. Sept. 10 on their campus-based field. General admission is $8, while seniors and students are $5.

Traditionally one of the stronger programs in the state, San Mateo went 10-2 last season and played in the Northern California Championship game.

The Bulldogs opened 2022 with a 45-28 victory over preseason No. 21 Sierra on Sept. 3. San Mateo's defense came up with three turnovers, including a pair of forced fumbles, to overcome a 13-10 halftime deficit.

Offensively, the Bulldogs were led by running backs J'Wan Evans (16 carries, 123 yards) and Ezra Moleni (nine carries, 88 yards, two touchdowns).

"After one game, there is certainly some stuff that jumps off, like them being frisky on defense and wanting to run the ball," Burkett said. "But we'll see how it unfolds on Saturday." 

Sequoias is coming off a performance at Butte that impressed the JCAB voters, who vaulted the Giants from a No. 23 preseason ranking to No. 12.

Sequoias' overall play, however, did not please Burkett. 

The Giants had two turnovers -- a fumble that led to a Butte touchdown two plays later, and an interception returned for a score -- allowed three long touchdown receptions (29, 60 and 27 yards) by Jailen Hammer and surrendered 20 points in the fourth quarter after building a 32-13 lead.

"Last week wasn't winning football," Burkett said. "Our players understand that. Our coaches understand that. And I understand that. We're looking to make a big jump from week one to week two. We want to play winning football for four quarters. We're trying to teach our guys consistency."

There were bright spots for Sequoias, though, including:

* Returning All-Valley Conference quarterback Nathan Lamb completed 20 of 26 passes for 239 yards, including touchdowns of 16 and 27 yards to Anthony Valencia (Mt. Whitney) and 10 yards to Alex Ledesma (Mission Oak).

* Valencia caught seven passes for 77 yards.

* Danny Olivera (Firebaugh) rushed nine times for 47 yards (5.2-yards per carry) and a touchdown.

* The offensive line of starters Jacob Guzman (Corcoran), Willie Asalele (American Samoa), Matthew Sanchez (Tulare Western), Tyler Ball (Redwood) and Caleb Walker (El Diamante), and reserves Abel Barajas (Porterville), Justin Warford (Mission Oak), Simeon Nenadov (Buchanan) and Jeston Vaulet (Sparks, Nevada) paving the way for Sequoias to rush for 154 yards, convert seven-of-13 third downs and three-of-four fourth downs.

* A defense -- led by Michael Wessel (Golden West), Hayden Scott (Porterville), Tokyo Gordon (Adairsville, Ga.) and Tywun (Gordon (Adairsville, Ga.) -- that forced Butte to go three-and-out on five-of-12 possessions, held the Roadrunners without a third-down conversion on seven attempts and yielded only 48 yards rushing.

"I think we have a lot to build on," Burkett said. "We did some nice things. Now we're looking to take the next step."