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The Corsairs’ hopes of winning a conference championship took a hit on Saturday as College of the Redwoods fell 25-22 to De Anza College at the Redwood Bowl.

Both teams came into the game undefeated in the American Pacific 7 Conference, but it was the visitors who walked away with the win thanks to a tie-breaking 38-yard field goal by Tim Blackmore with just 1:22 remaining in the game.

The loss was just the second on the season for CR, which dropped to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in conference, while De Anza improved to 8-0 and 3-0.

However, the Corsairs can still claim a share of the conference championship, although they will need some help.

Siskiyous (6-2, 3-0) also is unbeaten in the American Pacific 7 Conference and will play both De Anza and CR over the next two weeks.

If Siskiyous can beat De Anza next week and the Corsairs defeats Siskiyous in their conference finale in two weeks, then there would be a three-way tie atop the standings.

Saturday’s loss, however, was a frustrating one for CR, coming against a very undisciplined De Anza team that gave up an incredible 181 yards on 21 penalties.

“I think the biggest thing that bothered me is they’re not a very disciplined team and we lost to an undisciplined team,” CR head coach Jason White said. 

The visitors also did a good job of keeping the CR offense on the sideline, allowing the Corsairs just 41 plays on offense.

“That was frustrating for us,” White added. “We never had the ball.”

De Anza came out strong and led 14-0 just 10 minutes into the game.

The Corsairs got on the board with four minutes remaining in the opening quarter when Jordyn Bowers scored on a one-yard TD run to cut the deficit in half.

Led by athletic quarterback Antevious Jackson, the De Anza offense added a third TD early in the second quarter before the host team responded when the always-dangerous Isaiah Hemmings scored on a 14-yard TD run to pull his team within one score once again.

“Isaiah Hemmings, every week he performs,” White said.

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The Corsairs had a chance to tie the game late in the half, but an interception by quarterback Bryce Livingston ended the threat.

“We made too many mistakes,” White said. “You can’t turn the ball over against a team like that.”

After a scoreless third quarter, the Corsairs tied the game with six minutes remaining in the fourth when receiver Glen “Phat” Williams scored on a nine-yard TD reception from Livingston and Hemmings added a two-point conversion run.

However, the late field goal would prove decisive and handed the Corsairs their first home loss of the season.

Livingston completed 11 of 17 passes for 114 yards, a TD and two interceptions, while Hemmings led the ground attack with 73 yards on 18 carries and also had four receptions for 37 yards.

Williams led the CR receivers with five catches for 54 yards and also had 116 yards on three kickoff returns.

For the game, the Corsairs managed just 223 yards of total offense.

Defensively, former Del Norte Warrior Conner Long continued to impress and he finished the game with two sacks and two tackles for a loss.

Moe Leiataua also impressed on defense and finished with a sack and two tackles for a loss, while Tyreeq Reaves added a sack and a tackle for a loss and former St. Bernard’s Crusaders Perry Bailey and Kyler Smith each had four tackles, including two tackles for a loss by the former.

White also praised the play of the CR offensive line, which moved “their front quite a bit.”

“I’m proud of my kids,” the head coach added. “They responded well to the way that team tried to play the game.”

The Corsairs will play a non-conference game at home against Cabrillo next weekend, before closing out the regular season at Siskiyous the following week.