Football team out to prove that old adage: ‘Practice makes perfect’
The Laney College football team opens the 2015 football at home when it plays host to Sacramento City College on Friday, Sept. 4. Game time is 7 p.m. The Eagles are coming off a 6–5 season in 2014 and defeated the Panthers 48–33 in Sacramento in the season opener last year. Laney finished the season with a 30–20 loss to College of San Mateo in the Bulldog Bowl after finishing as co-champions of the Valley Conference. It was the third straight season that Laney has gone to a bowl game.“We are a young team this season,” head coach John Beam said. “We lost two offensive linemen, a quarterback and running back to Division I schools and they have to be replaced.”Rumor has it that Sac City is loaded with talent this season and the Panthers did finish last season with a 7–4 record, defeating Diablo Valley College 41–35 in overtime to win the East Bay Bowl on DVC’s home turf in Pleasant Hill.
But Laney is not without talent. Beam cited tight end Darneail Jenkins and right tackle Sean Taylor as two players who could help an inexperienced offense. Defensively, Mike Adams and Kesomi Mafi add some much-needed experience.On offense, it looks like Shawn Hessler, a freshman from Las Lomas High School, will be the starting quarterback. “Running back right now will be by committee,” Beam said. Taylor Poyadue and Tyrone Campbell look to have the edge at that position.One of the strengths of this team will be the offensive line; Beam said there are seven or eight players who have seen action but have not started. Five or six defensive players are in the same situation.