OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION LIFTS KNIGHTS OVER SISKIYOUS 47-14

REDDING, Calif. – Eli Wehbey threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start and Shasta College's football team racked up a season-high 575 yards of offense in a 47-14 home win over rival College of the Siskiyous Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Knights fumbled on their opening possession but C.J. Williams Jr.v intercepted Hunter Davis on the Eagles' first offensive play. Shasta (1-2 NorCal, 3-5) scored on four straight drives and five of their next six to go into halftime leading 34-14.

Holden Gilbert started the Knights' highest scoring game of the season by reversing field and breaking free for a 34-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter. Tyler Carey following on the Knights' next offensive play by turning a quick screen pass into a 64-yard touchdown for his ninth receiving score of the year. Carey finished with six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown – all in the first half.

Siskiyous answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Karson Boschma but Shasta didn't waste any time responding. Josiah Graham hauled in a Wehbey pass and took it the distance for a 68-yard score and Wehbey found Cameron Williams streaking down the left sideline for a 40-yard score to go up 27-7 with 8:50 remaining in the second quarter. The Knights scored four times across nine offensive plays in the first half.

"It was great to see the offense and defense clicking on the same night," Shasta College head coach Bryon Hamilton said. "Holden Gilbert and Eli Wehbey were both recognized by CCCAA for their performances."

The Eagles (0-3 NorCal, 1-6) cut it to a two-score game on Davis' 53-yard touchdown pass to Boschma, who got past the Shasta defense with a stop-and-go route. Shasta pushed the lead back to 20 before half with Miles Wilson turning a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown to go ahead 34-14.

After 48 combined points in the first half, both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. Holden Gilbert bounced off defenders and found pay dirt on a tough 13-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter and backup quarterback Gavin Dobson connected with Wilson on a swing pass for a 3-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession.

The Eagles turned the ball over on downs on three straight possessions in the second half and Waylon Bell intercepted Davis late in the fourth quarter to secure a victory for the Knights and snap a three-game losing streak.

"The defense forced three turnovers and did an excellent job of controlling the Siskiyous offensive line," Hamilton said.

Wehbey completed 17 of 24 passing for 329 yards and four scores to four different players. Gilbert totaled 185 yards of offense, running for 167 yards and a pair of scores on 12 attempts while also catching two passes for 18 yards. Wilson rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries and finished with 39 yards receiving and two scores on two catches. Williams totaled 51 receiving yards on three catches and a touchdown.

"The offensive line played very well and very physical," Hamilton said. "We will need that same type of effort in order to beat Santa Rosa on Saturday."

Defensively, Aiden Allsop and Anthony Slayton each finished with nine tackles and a pair of tackles for a loss along with one sack and 0.5 sacks, respectively. Nikki Kamelamela had six tackles and an interception, Waylon Bell had five tackles and an interception and Braden Rohde had four tackles and a sack.

Shasta hosts Santa Rosa Junior College Saturday at 6 p.m. for sophomore night.

GAME NOTES

Shasta has won three straight against College of the Siskiyous and four of the past five meetings, but Siskiyous owns the all-time series 35-23, which dates back to 1969 … Tyler Carey is among the state leaders in receiving with nine receiving TDs this season, which is fourth-most in the state, his 676 receiving yards ranks sixth in California and his 23.3 yards per reception is second-most in the state … Eli Wehbey has thrown four touchdowns in two of his three games this season … Shasta averaged 138 passing yards through its first five games but is averaging 277 yards passing in the three games Wehbey has played … Shasta matched its season total of defensive interceptions with 3 – one each from Waylon Bell, Nikki Kamelamela and C.J. Williams Jr. Previously, Noah Benson had all three of the team interceptions. 

STANDINGS
Team NorCal, Overall
#12 American River 3-0, 5-3
#7 Sierra 2-1, 6-2
#14 Butte 2-1, 5-3
Shasta 1-2, 3-5
Santa Rosa 1-2, 3-5
Siskiyous 0-3, 1-6

Photo Credit: Mike Daly

Video link: https://youtu.be/Us3MPvCYWwM