SHASTA DEALT TOUGH LOSS TO SISKIYOUS IN SPRING SEASON OPENER
REDDING, Calif. – The Shasta College football team suffered a gut-wrenching 19-16 home defeat to College of the Siskiyous Saturday at Memorial Stadium in the first game played since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
HIGHLIGHTS: Shasta College falls to Siskiyous 19-16The Knights staged a fourth quarter comeback with backup quarterback Toren Tuttle leading Shasta on an 11-play scoring drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gentry Cox on fourth-and-14 with 42 seconds remaining.
But Siskiyous (1-0) had an answer, and it was an improbable one. The Eagles converted fourth and 10 before Ted Wickman hauled in a 25-yard pass to get into Knights' territory. With seven seconds left, quarterback O.J. Calleja's pass was nearly intercepted by Jaiden Harris but the ball bounced off his hands and Wickman snatched it, going the final five yards for a game-winning touchdown on the final play.
"Emotionally it takes so much to be invested in it and it comes down to a Hail Mary at the end and doesn't go our way, that's tough to swallow," said Shasta College head coach Bryon Hamilton. "It's devastating."
Shasta's offense sputtered throughout the first half, generating only two points off a Jared Amasio blocked punt for a safety to trail 7-2 at the break. Shasta took an 8-7 lead on a 6-yard hook-up from Kasey Briggs to Tyler Carey late in the third period but Siskiyous responded with a 14-play scoring drive, finishing in unique fashion. The Eagles' ball carrier fumbled at the goal line but Addison Galen recovered while falling into the end zone for a touchdown to lead 13-8 early in the fourth.
The Knights (0-1) were unable to pick up yards with the run game despite employing a dangerous three-headed monster with Tyler Boston, Jayden Gordon and Vinny Smith – who combined for 27 carries for 39 yards on the afternoon. Shasta finished with 65 yards rushing on 37 attempts.
"We were committed to run game but couldn't get anything going," Hamilton said. "Maybe we should have spread them out earlier but stuck to the game plan and what our identity will be. It's a good wake up call for us, this type of defense can give us fits."
Briggs and Tuttle both saw action at quarterback and both threw a touchdown but it was the latter who led the Knights on a late scoring drive to put them in position to win. The freshman out of South Medford, Oregaon. threw a touchdown to Cox on a fade route to ignite the home bench.
But the excitement didn't last long. Siskiyous had three chunk plays with the final being a miraculous grab to win the game and spoil Shasta's home opener in the four-game spring season.
No spectators were allowed at the game due to COVID-19 protocols but the game was live streamed on ShastaCountySports.com.
Briggs completed 9-of-14 passes for 95 yards and threw an interception while Tuttle was 10-of-20 for 66 yards and added 16 rushing yards on seven attempts. Boston was the leading rusher with 18 carries for 18 yards while Gordon added 61 total yards on 14 touches, tying a game-high eight catches with teammate Tyler Carey (62 yards).
Tavian Wallace, the Knights' leading returning tackler, had 14 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble to pace the defensive standouts. Larry Polk added 10 tackles, Jaquay Mills pitched in with eight stops and Amasio had seven tackles.
London McCall chipped in with a sack in his first game at defense after switching from tight end in 2019 and CJ Catia intercepted a pass.
Shasta hosts Feather River College Saturday at 1 p.m. for the final home game until the fall season.