Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Christian Solomana celebrates his touchdown with teammates during Saturday’s game.

By Ray Hamill — The switch to the National Division didn’t exactly go how College of the Redwoods would have liked on Saturday afternoon, but it certainly wasn’t all bad.

This past offseason Redwoods made the move from the American Division to the more competitive National Division and they began the new era with a matchup against Sacramento City College at the Redwood Bowl.

A fumble on the opening kickoff, however, saw the Panthers return the ball to the CR 3-yard line and the visitors punched it in from there to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Sac City would win a close game 16-13.

“You take away that first play, we win the game,” CR head coach Jason White said.

Despite the loss, there were several positives on both sides of the ball, including the play of quarterback Quinton Buckland and a defense that gave up just one other touchdown drive all afternoon and scored one of the team’s two TDs.

“Our defense played extremely well,” White said of the unit that allowed just 250 yards over the four quarters. “They’re doing an incredible job right now.”

Linebacker Christian Solomana provided the highlight play of the afternoon when he intercepted a pass at the Sac City six-yard line and returned it to the end zone for Redwoods’ first TD of the season early in the second quarter.

It was a big moment for the red-shirt freshman, who missed all of last year with a knee injury but announced this return in style.

“That’s a kid who came back from knee surgery and stepped up and made that big play,” White said. “He’s an incredible player. He’s a difference maker.”

Former Fortuna Husky Caden Wilkinson also impressed at linebacker for the home team and finished with a team-high six tackles, including five solo, as well as one of his team’s two sacks and a tackle for a loss.

Offensively, however, Redwoods struggled in the red zone, scoring just once on four trips deep into Sac City territory.

Ja’Ere Alexander would score on a two-yard run with nine minutes remaining in the game for CR’s second TD of the afternoon, but that was the end of the scoring and the visitors would hold on down the stretch for the season-opening win.

In his first start for the team, Buckland looked solid at quarterback and completed 13-of-22 passes for 130 yards, while also rushing for a team-high 45 yards on 11 carries.

“I liked how Quinton played,” White said. “He brings some intangibles to what we’re doing.”

Running back Hank Ollenberger added 44 yards rushing on 23 carries and 41 yards receiving on two catches.  

The problem for a Redwoods offense that had just one returning starter on Saturday was the play of a new-look offensive line, which is still finding its feet early in the new season.

That, matched with the early setback on special teams and the disappointing return in the red zone, proved to be the difference in a tight game.

“To be honest, we didn’t provide the protection up front,” White admitted. “Right now, I know we need to play better up front.

“The special teams at the beginning, you can’t do things like that at this level and expect to be successful. 

“And we’ve got to a better job in the red zone, and I’ve got to a better job.

“We didn’t play well enough to win the game honestly.”

Despite the disappointing start to the new campaign, however, White remains confident the team will continue to improve.

“Our offensive line will get better,” he said. “We’re just going to go in and fix mistakes and we’re going to get better.”

Next up, Redwoods will play at Foothill next Saturday at 6 p.m.