After two losses, Laney plays Sequoias on Oct. 30
The Laney College football team, after suffering three straight losses, will attempt to get back on the winning track when it plays host to the College of Sequoias on Friday, Oct. 30. Game time is 7 p.m.
Laney (3–4, 0–2 in the National Valley Conference) has seen its conference title aspirations just about disappear with its last two losses — 35–16 at Fresno City College on Oct. 17 and 41–20 at home to Modesto Junior College on Oct. 23.
The Eagles should have an easier time with COS (4–3, 0–2). The Giants began their season 4–0 but them were pulverized by Santa Rosa Junior College (44–0) and MJC (56–0) on successive Saturdays. COS lost 42–38 to San Joaquin Delta on Oct. 24.
But considering their recent lack of success, the Eagles can’t take any team for granted.
Despite it all, Laney could win its last three games to finish 6–4 and perhaps receive a postseason bowl bid. The Eagles, after playing COS, travel to Stockton to play SJD on Saturday, Nov. 7, and then wind up the regular season with a home game against rival Chabot College on Nov. 13.
The game against MJC wasn’t as lopsided as the final score indicated. The Eagles were down 34–20 when Pirates defensive back Dewayne Finney intercepted a pass and ran 34 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the game.
It was the only interception for Laney quarterback Shawn Hessler. Hessler, who set a school record with 66 pass attempts.
He completed 36 passes (which ties a school record) for 286 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jay Yesin.
Derek Murray held both records. Murray completed 36 of 48 pass attempts for 457 yards in a 37–29 loss to Santa Rosa Junior College in 2002.
Against Modesto, Yesin caught 10 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He caught a 5-yard scoring pass in the first quarter that cut the Pirates lead to 7–6 (the PAT was missed) and a 10-yarder in the third that moved Laney to within 27–13.
Running back Ryan (Speedy) Gordon had his best game of the season with 14 carries for 145 yards. He scored on a 56-yard run with 1:15 left in the third quarter.