The College of the Redwoods football team faced its biggest challenge of the season on Saturday, traveling to play Sierra College, the No. 5 team in the state.
Ad while the visitors matched up well early in the game and even enjoyed the better of exchanges for much of the first half, ultimately mistakes took them out of contention and they fell 42-27.
The loss, which was the second straight for the local community college program, dropped CR to 1-2 in the NorCal Conference and 5-3 overall.
Things started well for head coach Jason White and his players, who led 14-0 late in the first half, but a fumble shortly before halftime — one of four turnovers CR committed — gave the Wolverines possession deep in CR territory and they would take full advantage, scoring with under two minutes remaining in the half to cut the deficit in half.
A second-half pick six, one of three interceptions by quarterback Kasen Covert, and a kickoff return for a TD added to the problems.
“We played a great first half,” Whiter said. “Defensively we played lights out in the first half, and offensively we were moving the ball.
“But you can’t make special teams mistakes, you can’t fumble the ball on your own 20, and we threw a pick in their end zone.
“We made mistakes you can’t make if you want to beat the No. 5 team in the state.”
It was a game that Redwoods could have won and perhaps should have.
CR out-gained the home team in total offense (435 yards to 361) and in first downs (23 to 18), but the Wolverines had 258 yards on returns, which certainly helped their cause.
Covert had a productive day, completing 20-of-31 passes for 300 yards and four TDs, but the three interceptions proved costly.
He also rushed for a team-high 74 yards on 16 carries, although the CR running backs managed just 56 additional yards on the ground.
CR opened the scoring on a 12-yard Covert TD pass to tight end Quinton Buckland in the first quarter, and the Redwoods quarterback would add a 32-yard TD pass to Tre Silva with five minutes remaining in the half to double the advantage.
Silva, who also caught a 28-yard TD pass, had a big day despite the loss, finishing with 138 yards on six receptions, while Uriah Carlston had two catches for 60 yards and Buckland finished with 54 yards on five receptions.
Justice Anthony rounded out the scoring for CR, pulling in an eight-yard TD catch and finishing with 44 yards receiving on seven receptions.
“Offensively we moved the ball, but we turned it over four times and you can’t do that,” White said. “We were right there with them the whole time. The score was deceptive.”
The back-to-back losses, including a defeat to Butte last week, has taken CR out of the conference championship race, but it’s a team that continues to compete well in the higher level National Division.
Both of the team’s conference losses have come against top-eight teams in the state, and the only other loss came against No. 16 Monterey Peninsula.
“I’m proud of how our kids are battling every week,” White said. “We’re right there with the top teams.”
CR will try to get back track against No. 20 Diablo Valley at the Redwood Bowl next week.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
