The Los Medanos College Mustangs football team lost a tight contest to the Shasta College Knights Saturday Nov. 7, 29-28.
Quarterback Gabe Taylor (9-20, 101 yards, touchdown, interception) set the pace early with a 21-yard run to the end zone, but the two-point conversion was intercepted and returned 98 yards by Shasta making the score 6-2.
There was more back-and-forth action in the second quarter as Taylor found wide receiver Angelo Moore (2 receptions, 66 yards, touchdown) for a 15-yard touchdown with a successful extra point from kicker Blessing Wainiwheh.
The Mustangs took an 11-point lead, but the Knights answered back with their own 15-yard touchdown scamper. The Knights also failed their two-point conversion attempt as Los Medanos headed into half time leading 13-8.
Shasta found momentum in the second half as they ate up over 6 minutes during a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass from quarterback Timothy Naylor (25-34, 242 yards, 2 touchdowns) to wide receiver Mikel Frost (9 rec, 75 yards, 2 touchdowns). The score gave Shasta the lead, while the successful conversion put them up 16-13.
Just two plays later LMC’s running back Billy Wells (30 attempts, 242 yards, touchdown) showed his athleticism s he ran 56-yards for a score. The Mustangs had a chance to extend their lead the next drive but were stuffed inside the 10 yard-line four times, unable to score, turning the ball over on downs.
The final quarter saw a few lead changes.
Taylor, with 6:07 left, once again rushed his way into the end zone to make the score 26-23 after the extra point.
The Mustangs didn’t hold that lead for long as the Knights Connor Silveria (22 attempts, 97 yards, 2 touchdowns) had a 31-yard run for a touchdown (failed extra point) making the score 29-26 with 3:10 left in the game.
LMC tacked on a safety late but it was not enough
“I thought this was a well played game and it went to the very last second,” said Taylor. “[Shasta] made plays when they needed to and we didn’t.”
The Mustangs are 4-5 overall with one game left in the season at Mendocino Nov. 14.
“We want to end our season 5-5 and be able to send the sophomores off with a win,” said Taylor.