The Chabot Gladiators football team (2-2) lost on Saturday afternoon to the undefeated Shasta Knights (4-0) 56-28.
Sophomore wide receiver Joseph Stevenson opened the door for the Knights, returning the opening kickoff 85 yards to the end zone.
The Gladiators responded with a kickoff return of their own; sophomore wide receiver Jalen Frenchwood found a lane after securing the kick at the 10-yard line to even the score.
Sophomore running back Wyatt Simoni was a big part of the Knights game plan against the No. 6 ranked rushing-yards-allowed-per-game defense. Simoni recorded 138 yards and three touchdowns.
Shasta rushed for 246 yards, averaging seven yards per carry, and five touchdowns as a team.
Chabot was down by seven at halftime after a touchdown by sophomore wide receiver Sefa Stephens made the score 28-21.
They wouldn’t score again until the fourth quarter when Stephens attempted a pass off a trick play to freshman wide receiver Joseph Tarin for a 62-yard touchdown.
Stephens and Tarin lead the team with three touchdowns apiece this season.
The Knights picked off freshman quarterback Deontae Faison twice. Both turnovers would lead to Shasta points, extending the lead.
Three touchdowns in the fourth-quarter put Shasta up too far ahead for Chabot. Sophomore quarterback Beau Devens threw for 149 yards on 63% completion percentage and one touchdown.
Sophomore linebacker Gerardo Zavala-Rangel led the Gladiators with nine tackles. He came up with an interception in the third quarter while the team was down by seven points, but a roughing the passer call negated the turnover.
Shasta has been running through its schedule, only allowing 23 total points over the previous three weeks and scoring 35 points or more in every game.
Chabot will look to right the course at 6pm on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Don Odishoo Stadium against the Merced Blue Devils.
Keep up with all Gladiator news on athletics.chabotcollege.edu.
