Victory elusive for Siskiyous
By Reggie Stiteler
Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 5:41 PM CDT
Mt. Shasta News
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Siskiyous Anthony Young hauls in this 40-yard bomb from quarterback Ben Cozad before juking the Panther defender and charging 12 more yards for the 52-yard touchdown completion. The play tied the game at 14 early in the fourth quarter of play. Young caught 6 passes for 130 yards on the day, including two touchdowns in the Eagles 28-21 loss to Sacramento City College last Saturday. |
Sacramento City thwarted Siskiyous conference title hopes, finding pay dirt with less than a minute to play at Herschel Meredith Stadium Saturday, defeating the Eagles 28-21.
After fighting to a scoreless tie until midway through the third period, three fourth quarter lead changes provided a tumultuous ending for the 3-4 Eagles.
“It's getting frustrating,” head coach Eric Young admits. “We're close every week.”
After limiting the visiting Panthers to 22 offensive plays in the first half, the Siskiyou defense nearly missed at least four chances to intercept Panther quarterback Andrew Gardner in the final quarter alone.
Defensive back Jemaury Cal made a nice pick along the Eagle sideline temporarily firing up the Siskiyous' spirits. But a roughing the passer call gave the ball right back to Sacramento. Three other turnover opportunities literally slipped through the Eagles hands, two in the final minute on the fatal Panther scoring drive .
“It was a bunch of little mistakes that cost us,” said Young, “our game plan I think was good.”
The Eagle offense played well, controlling the time of possession in each quarter but the third and turning the ball over only once.
But a blocked punt by the Panthers in the closing minutes of quarter number three, gave them possession on the Eagle two yard line. A controversial touchdown commenced quarter four as a Panther running back Jose Zambrano lost the football on the goal line. The officials concluded the ball had crossed the plane prior to the fumble, giving Sacramento a 14-7 lead.
The Eagles sideline was steaming from the call. But Coach Young's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty criticizing the ruling seemed to fire up his offense and quarterback Ben Cozad.
On the two ensuing Eagle drives Cozad rallied, first finding receiver Anthony Young for a 50-yard touchdown reception that started on the COS seven yard line, then scrambling, arms out-stretched for a short 1-yard touchdown, improvising after a muffed hand off to running back Jermaine Holmes to give the Eagles a 21-14 come- from-behind lead.
At this point with less than five minutes left in regulation, the Eagle defense came oh-so- close to clinching the victory with an interception. But as the home crowd was at their peak noise level of the afternoon, Sacramento took to the ground route converting a fourth and one on the Eagle 26 yard line. Running back John Gaines not only gained the yard, but hauled tail right into the end zone practically untouched to tie the game at 21, seemingly deflating the home team.
On the Eagle's next offensive play, Cozad was picked off. With the Panthers driving, defensive back Edward Smith had two additional passes slide through his fingers, and the Eagles failed to rebound as Sacramento ran the ball into the end zone and the clock to 0:44.
Siskiyous, now 0-2 in the Mid-Empire Conference travel to Merced this Saturday.
“We've gotten ourselves into a must win situation,” says Young. “We need to win out to give us a chance at the conference (title).”
“If we use the tools we have and just clean up the mistakes, good things can still happen.”
Anthony Young caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles. Jermaine Holmes gained 99 yards rushing on 18 carries to pace the rushing attack. Quarterback Matt Jackson completed 17 of 29 passes with one touchdown before splitting time with Cozad.
