Football Highlights 2009
November 7, 2009
October 24, 2009
Sierra 35, West Hills College 28
October 17, 2009
Sierra 43, San Joaquin Delta 52
October 3, 2009
Sierra 21, College of San Mateo 38
September 26, 2009
Sierra 34, American River College 45
September 19, 2009
Sierra 21, City College of San Francisco 35
In a battle of Northern California heavyweights, the Sierra College Wolverines lost 35-21 to the City College of San Francisco Rams on Saturday, September 19th. The game was closer than the score indicated as it was tied 21-21 with only six minutes remaining. The Wolverines and Rams lived up to their respective #4 and #5 state rankings and could conceivably meet again in the NorCal championship in November.
First Quarter
Sierra struck first as they went 68 yards on 10 plays on the game's opening drive. Jeff Nelson hit Justin Chastain on a 28-yard fade route for the score. Zach Cameron's extra point made it 7-0 after only 3:46.
After an exchange of punts, CCSF got on the board with a 31-yard field goal from Jens Alvernik. The quarter ended with Sierra in front 7-3.
Second Quarter
Both defenses were stellar in the second as they kept both offenses out of the end zone. Wolverine defenders Cedric Mauga, John Bloomfield, Lincoln Togiai, Jermaine Fox, Paul Vassallo and Kevin Frank came up with big play after big play to stall the potent Rams, who came into the game averaging 46 points a game.
An Alvernik 27 yard field goal as the half expired came after an inspired Wolverine goal line stand that began with the Rams enjoying a first-and-goal from the one. The teams headed to the locker room with Sierra in front 7-6.
Third Quarter
The Wolverines opened the scoring in the second half after a Kevin Frank interception at the goal line snuffed out the Rams initial drive and gave Sierra the ball near midfield. Three plays later, Nelson hit Brandon Michalkiewicz from the 28 for the score. Cameron's conversion made it 14-6, Wolverines.
The lead was short-lived as Ram running back John Jackson punched it in from the one to cap a 3:46, 59-yard drive. His two-point conversion run tied it at 14-14.
An exchange of punts gave the Rams the ball. A Kevin Frank hit after a completed pass jarred the ball loose and the Wolverines recovered at the Ram 36. Nelson hit tight end Jacob Segarra from the one and, following Cameron's kick, Sierra was in front 21-14. Again, the lead didn't last long.
Fourth Quarter
The Rams evened the score only eight seconds into the fourth. A Wolverine pass coverage breakdown left CCSF receiver Anthony Amos wide open at the Sierra 40. Ram QB Darius Bell hit Amos in stride to put CCSF in front for the first time, 28-21.
The Wolverine offense could not answer. Bell capped a 67-yard drive with a 7-yard naked bootleg TD run and then followed that with a 19-yard pass to Jackson to end the game at 35-21, Rams.
Recap and a look ahead
The Wolverines, despite the loss, showed they can play at the highest level in the state. The offense gained 402 total yards, 116 on the ground and 286 through the air. QB Jeff Nelson was again in top form as he ended the game 22-42 for 286 yards and three TDs. Receivers Justin Chastain and Brandon Michalkiewicz had 11 catches for 139 yards and 6 catches for 104 yards, respectively.
Deonte Williams carried the ball 23 times for 83 yards and Jermaine Fox returned three kickoffs for 64 yards.
Sierra (2-1) hosts its first home game against cross-town rival American River College (2-1) this Saturday at Homer "Buzz" Ostrom Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:00pm although everyone is invited to the pre-game BBQ from 11:30 to 12:30. The BBQs, which take place before each home game, are FREE to members of the Wolverine Athletic Association (WAA.) You can join the WAA at the game. More information about the WAA is available on this website.
As with every Wolverine game, the Sierra-ARC matchup can be heard on KAHI 950AM or on www.kahi.com.
September 11, 2009
Sierra 48, Sacramento City 26
The Sierra football team continued its dominance of crosstown arch-rival Sacramento City College with a 48-26 victory over the Panthers at Hughes Stadium Friday night. The Wolverines matched the triple-digit temperature with a scorching offensive effort led by sophomore quarterback Jeff Nelson's second consecutive 3-touchdown passing performance.
First Quarter
After a Nelson interception ended the game's opening drive, the Wolverine defense put Sierra on the board with a turnover of their own. With the Panthers driving deep into Wolverine territory, City QB Cody Allen fumbled on a third and short. Sierra linebacker Setaleki Fuapau (SO, Rio Linda) scooped up the ball and rumbled 70 yards for the game's first points. Zach Cameron's (FR, Folsom) XP made it 7-0 Sierra.
Sac City answered on the ensuing drive by running the ball down the throats of a Wolverine defense designed to shut down Allen's passing. The drive culminated, however, with a 29-yard scoring pass from Allen to Jeremiah Oates. James Ward's conversion knotted the score at 7's.
Sierra regained the lead 16 seconds later on an electrifying 92-yard kickoff return by Jermaine Fox (SO, Inderkum) A missed XP kick kept the score 13-7.
After the Panthers were forced to punt on their next series, Sierra's offense finally came to life. A seven-play, 80-yard drive was capped by a 37-yard Nelson (SO, Summit) pass to a leaping Justin Chastain (SO Colfax) Cameron's kick put the Wolverines on top 20-7.
The high-scoring opening stanza ended on a 9-play, 64-yard drive by the Panthers. Allen's 15-yard pass to Oates and a missed extra point made the score 20-13, Sierra, after one.
Second Quarter
Sierra wasted no time answering the Panthers with 64-yard scoring drive of their own to open quarter number two. C.J. Woodbury (SO, Foothill) punched it in from one yard out and Cameron's kick made it 27-13.
The Wolverine D stiffened again, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Paul Vassallo (SO, Bishop Minogue) after a wicked hit by DB Kevin Frank (SO, Elk Grove) Nelson hit WR Brandon Michalkiewicz (SO, Granite Bay) on a slant route from the six for the TD. Cameron added the XP for a 34-13 lead that held up for the rest of the half.
Third Quarter
The Wolverines put the game out of reach with two scores in the third, thanks to an inspired defensive effort and a renewed running attack. On the half's initial possession, Vassallo tipped an Allen pass to Fuapau and the Wolverines took over at the City 40. RB Deonte' Williams (SO, Pleasant Grove) then took over. He gained every one of Sierra's 40 yards on the possession, including a punishing 5-yard scoring burst. The XP increased the lead to 41-13 five minutes into the third.
The Panther offense again went nowhere and were forced to punt. A bad snap forced punter Ward to eat the ball and give the ball to Sierra at City's 27. Four plays later, Nelson hit Chastain from the 27 for the score. Cameron added the point for a 48-13 Wolverine advantage.
Fourth Quarter
With the five-touchdown lead, Wolverine Head Coach Jeff Tisdel elected to rest his starters for the game's final quarter. The Panthers took advantage of Wolverine miscues to score on a 5-yard Stephen Tezanos-Pinto run and a 35-yard Kevin Johnson interception return.
Recap and a Look Ahead
Nelson ended the game 13-17 for 170 yards, 3TDs and a pick. The running game continued to be a force with Woodbury gaining 79 yards on 16 carries and Williams carrying 21 times for 77 yards. Chastain had a big game with 9 catches for 140 yards and a pair of TDs.
Sierra moved to 2-0 on the season (Sac City fell to 0-2) and are on the road for the third straight week next Saturday with a big inter-conference contest against perennial national power City College of San Fransisco. The Wolverines and Rams have won home games against each other the last two years and this year's match-up pits the 2nd ranked Wolverines against the 3rd ranked Rams. Kickoff is at 1pm and the game can be heard on KAHI 850AM and www.kahi.com.
- Matt Folsom
September 5, 2009
Sierra 51, Diablo Valley 33
In Sierra College's 51-33 win over Diablo Valley in Pleasant Hill on Saturday, Jeff Nelson tossed four touchdown passes in his first career start, including an 80-yard strike to Justin Chastain, and he had TD passes of 44, 54 and 28 yards to Brandon Michalkiewicz for the Wolverines. Tailbacks C.J. Woodbury and Deonte’ Williams combined for three rushing touchdowns and Paul Vassallo blocked a punt that went through the end zone for a Sierra safety.
— Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee
Photo gallery by Kevin Bray (flickr)
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| Brandon Michalkiewicz |
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| Deonte’ Williams |
2008 season highlights can be viewed on this page.
Page last updated:
November 9, 2009