Falcons can’t hold third-quarter lead, lose 35-21 to Shasta

Quarterback Jaice Holt threw for a season-high 278 yards in West Hills' loss to Shasta. (Photo by Gina Jason)
Quarterback Jaice Holt threw for a season-high 278 yards in West Hills' loss to Shasta. (Photo by Gina Jason)

West Hills College Coalinga totaled a season-high 407 yards of offense but Shasta College put up 28 unanswered points over the second half to erase a Falcons' lead and hand WHCC a 35-21 loss on Saturday at the Memorial Bowl in Coalinga.

West Hills fell to 0-3 on the season while Shasta improved to 3-1.

Neither team could get much offense going in the first half. With Shasta leading 7-0 late in the second quarter, Falcons quarterback Jaice Holt led his squad on a 12-play, 90-yard drive and closed it with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jarred Matchett to tie up the game with just seven seconds left.

West Hills received the ball to open the second half and once again marched the length of the field for another touchdown. This time, Holt ran it in from nine yards out to put the Falcons in front 14-7 at the 10:09 mark in the third quarter.

But Shasta came alive late in the third and went on to score 28 unanswered points. Gavin Dobson's 54-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Carey extended the Knights' lead to 35-14 with 13:18 left to play in the fourth.

West Hills got on the board one final time midway through the fourth. Backup quarterback Nick Siegel connected with Brandon Tryon for a 49-yard touchdown strike with 6:02 remaining to close out the scoring.

Tryon hauled in nine receptions for a game-high 143 yards. Dagostino Saintal (82 yards) and Matchett (66 yards) both caught eight passes.

Holt completed 29 of 42 passes for a season-high 278 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Siegal ended 4 for 7 with 78 yards and a TD.

On defense, Juan Donoso and Darius Jackson both totaled 10 tackles and were both in on a sack. Samuel Maldonado added eight tackles.

West Hills returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 16) when the Falcons travel to Modesto Junior College to open National Valley League play. Kick off is set for 6 p.m.