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College of the Redwoods made the long trip to play College of the Sequoias on Saturday, but continued to struggle and fell 41-21 to the Giants.

The visitors started slow and never fully recovered, although they grew into the game on both sides of the ball.

Trailing by 20 after the opening quarter, Redwoods scored back-to-back touchdowns, one each on offense and defense, to pull within one score, but unfortunately that was as close as they would get.

“We didn’t handle the trip well,” said CR head coach Jason White, whose team was playing in Visalia for the first time ever. “We didn’t get off the bus.”

Redwoods opened its account early in the second quarter, when new starting quarterback Devon Forehand connected with receiver Darron Dodd on a 24-yard TD pass.

The visitors would add to their tally less than a minute later when freshman defensive back Kameron Rague had a 46-yard pick six, and a Brandon Sailer PAT pulled them with six.

The Giants, however, would score two more touchdowns before halftime to widen the gap back out to 20 and there was no way back for CR after that.

The visitors did not score again until late in the game.

Forehand, a freshman from Kennedy Catholic High in Seattle, finished the game with 12 completions on 26 passes for 158 yards, the TD and one interception.

“He started out a little slow, but to be honest we didn’t do a good job protecting him,” White said. 

Alex Meadows added the third touchdown of the day for Redwoods on a 17-yard reception from Bryton Livingston, who came in late to take over from Forehand, who took a beating over the first three quarters.

Despite being replaced as the team’s starter this year, Livingston has been a team player.

“I’m happy with how he’s approached things,” White said of the sophomore, who once again gave CR a spark late and completed 4 of 5 passes for 46 yards and the TD.

Dodd finished the game with three receptions for 87 yards and the TD.

“He was a matchup problem for them,” White said. “I was happy with how he performed today.”

Saul Reyes added 59 yards receiving on four catches, while Meadows finished with 38 yards on five receptions.

CR, however, manage just 42 yards net rushing.

With the loss, Redwoods dropped to 0-4 on the season.

CR returns home to play Monterey Peninsula next Saturday, with kickoff set for noon at the Redwood Bowl.