REEDLEY, Calif. – Shasta College's football team lost 35-21 on the road to Reedley College Saturday in the season opener.
Quarterback Eli Wehbey connected with Pete Pennington for a 36-yard touchdown to tie it at 14 on the Knights' opening drive of the second half. But Reedley capitalized on two Shasta interceptions and scored on its next three possessions to pull away for the victory.
"We felt like we should've been able to get the victory but some key mistakes in key moments didn't allow us to do that," said Shasta head coach Bryon Hamilton.
Reedley (1-0) struck first with a 4-yard run in the opening quarter. Shasta (0-1) answered early in the second period when wide receiver Jahari Johnson took the end-around handoff for a 6-yard touchdown to convert fourth-and-3 to tie the game at 7.
After the teams traded fumbles, Reedley's Contae Carson punched it in from 1-yard out to cap a nine-play drive in 57 seconds to go into the break leading 14-7.
Jason Abbey rushed four times for 22 yards on Shasta's first drive of the second half before Wehbey and Pennington connected for the 36-yard to knot it at 14.
"We have a young team that has potential to be very good," Hamilton said.
Reedley quickly answered with a 1-yard run from quarterback DJ Stevenson and Wehbey was intercepted in the red zone on the ensuing drive. The Tigers needed eight plays to find the end zone on a 42-yard pass from Stevenson to Ron Vann.
Wehbey was intercepted near midfield on the next Knight possession and Reedley capitalized with a 14-yard scoring run from Carson to go ahead three scores.
"We have to keep getting better each week and eliminate some of the mistakes that cost us," Hamilton said.
Pennington caught a 10-yard touchdown from Levi Durrell in the final seconds to make it a two-score game.
Shasta held the edge in time of possession by five minutes and held Reedley to only 2 of 7 on third down, but was outgained 495-314 while being outrushed 234-64.
Wehbey completed 12 of 25 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Pennington hauled in three passes for 63 yards and two scores. Abbey racked up 37 yards on nine carries while Johnson caught five passes for 61 yards and added 11 yards on the ground. Hakeem Lowe totaled 57 yards on four receptions while Eli Cortinas contributed 52 yards on six receptions.
Drake Granberry's seven tackles paced Shasta. Javon Edwards had five tackles and forced a fumble, Kaden Bryant and Elijah Grooms each registered four tackles. Robert Jones forced a fumble and intercepted a pass and Chase Linkous forced a fumble.
Shasta returns home to Memorial Stadium against Delta College Saturday at 6 p.m.
"Our home fans provide a lot of energy for our team and we're looking forward to playing in front of them on Saturday," Hamilton said.