No. 10 Sequoias Drops Road Battle at No. 16 Fresno, Playoff Spot on the Line Saturday at Home

FRESNO, Calif. – College of the Sequoias took the lead with just over 12 minutes left in regulation and held it late into the fourth quarter, but Fresno City College connected on a 49-yard field goal as time expired to escape with a 23-21 win Saturday afternoon at Ratcliffe Stadium in a Central Valley Conference matchup. 

College of the Sequoias (7-2 overall, 3-1 CVC) racked up 435 yards of total offense, but saw a pair of turnovers – including a late red zone fumble – and a missed field goal ultimately made the difference. The Giants also drew nine penalties for 75 yards in a back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes. 

Quarterback Payton Faker (Washington) led the Giants through the air, completing 31-of-46 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns, with completions to eight different receivers. Wideouts Marshel Sanders (Clovis West HS) and Gage Armbruster (Corcoran HS) delivered standout performances: Sanders hauled in 10 catches for 199 yards, including a 53-yard third-quarter strike to set up a game-tying touchdown. Armbruster added 7 receptions for 113 yards and had a key 45-yard gain to start a fourth-quarter scoring drive. 

Sequoias opened the game with a 12-play, 79-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by Jahkylle Smith (Merced HS) to take a 6-0 lead. Smith later added a 4-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter to put the Giants in front, 21-20. 

After giving up a pair of touchdown runs to Fresno, the Giants responded quickly. Faker led a 75-yard scoring drive, finishing with a 6-yard TD pass to O'Bryan Flanigan (El Diamante HS), followed by a successful two-point conversion by Donyell Booker (Tulare Union HS) to even the game at 14-14. 

Fresno (5-4, 3-1) countered with a methodical 80-yard touchdown drive to end the third quarter. But the Giants answered again, marching 75 yards in just over two minutes to regain the lead on Smith's second score of the day. 

The Giants defense came up with a stop on Fresno's next drive, and the offense moved back inside the red zone with under three minutes remaining. However, a fumble at the Fresno 13-yard line was recovered by the Rams, denying Sequoias a potential game-clinching score. 

Fresno then drove 56 yards in the final 2:44, converting a 49-yard field goal as time expired. 

Defensively, the Giants got a strong outing from Josiah Harris (Tulare Western HS), who had 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack; Jose Beltran (Redwood HS) also recorded a sack. Paki Crawford (Washington Union HS) and Moses Saulsbury combined to record a sack, while Wendell Ware (Edison HS) added a pass breakup. COS held Fresno to just 141 passing yards. 

Despite the loss, COS remains firmly in playoff contention and will have one more opportunity to solidify its postseason résumé in front of a home crowd. 

UP NEXT: HOMESTAND FINALE vs. MODESTO 

The Giants will close out the regular season at home this Saturday, Nov. 9, against Modesto Junior College. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Sequoias Stadium. 

Both teams enter the final week of Valley Conference play with postseason implications on the line. With a win, Sequoias would secure a berth in the 2025 3C2A state playoffs. General admission is $10, seniors (65+) and COS Faculty/Staff is $5, and free admission for children under 9 and all students with ID. Come out and support the Giants in their final home game of the regular season!