Photo by Claudia Loeber/Lewis & Clark Athletics – Cruz Montana in action for the Pioneers.
By Ray Hamill — Three former H-DNL quarterbacks are coming off big weekends for their respective teams on the college fields.
Arcata’s Shane Purcell, a freshman at Contra Costa College, was named the Comets offensive player of the game after a 24-7 loss to Modesto.
Purcell, who has played in five games this season for the 2-5 Comets, completed 9 of 16 passes for 119 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Hoopa’s John Smith and Eureka’s Cruz Montana also had big weekends for their teams.
Montana continued to shine for Lewis & Clark in a 47-41 overtime win against Puget Sound.
The former Logger completed 18 of 27 passes for 262 yards, two TDs and an interception, while also rushing for 50 yards and a TD.
In six games this season, Montana has thrown for 1,394 yards and 13 TDs, with just five interceptions, while also rushing for four touchdowns.
In his past two games, both wins, the 2019 Eureka High graduate has thrown for five TDs and rushed for two.
Photo by Cornell College Athletics – John Smith
Smith, meanwhile ,accounted for both of Cornell College’s touchdowns in a 56-12 los to Monmouth, passing for one and running for one.
Smith completed 6 of 18 passes for 89 yards, including a 32-yard TD toss, while also scoring on a four-yard run.
The junior quarterback has appeared in six games for the Division-III Rams, who are 2-5.
Another former Logger, Kenneth Spaight, meanwhile, continues to play well for Clarke University.
The standout defensive back was in on a team-high six tackles in a 41-21 loss to Culver-Stockton, as the D-III Pride dropped to 3-5.
Clarke University Athletics – Kenneth Spaight
Spaight, who leads his team in tackles this season with 53, also had three kickoff returns against Culver-Stockton for 90 yards, including one for 51 yards.
At the JC level, former Del Norte Warrior Anthony Slayton continues to lead the way for the Shasta College defense and finished with seven tackles in a 49-13 loss at Sierra.
Slayton has been a bright spot for the struggling Knights, who have lost four straight and are now 2-5, and he is fifth win the state in tackles per game (8.9) and fifth in the state in tackles for a loss with 12.
