Delta College football team (2-4, 0-1 Valley Conference) were defeated 56-20 by the Chabot Gladiators (4-2, 1-0) at Lawrence A. DeRicco Field on Oct. 17.
“It’s the first game of Valley conference play and we went into it after a bye week feeling really optimistic,” said Delta Head Coach Gary Barlow.
The game started off promising for Chabot as the team scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jordan Burgher.
Delta College answered back with a nine play, 77-yard drive that was capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Phillip Kimble to wide receiver Jaxon Wagner.
Kimble completed 23 of 41 passes for a total of 202 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
However, Delta kicker Joel Chavez missed the extra point attempt.
Four minutes later the Mustangs punter, Craig Perkins, had his punt blocked by Chabot’s Dominic Ashley. Teammate, Brandon Jones, recovered the ball and fell into the end zone for a Gladiator touchdown to take a 14-6 lead over Delta.
Delta’s Phillip Kimble was intercepted by cornerback Justin Zander on the next possession.
Gladiators quarterback, Jose Ferreira, made the turnover hurt as he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jay Dennis to increase their lead to 21-6.
Delta’s defense tried to turn the momentum as defensive lineman Brenden Enis stripped running back Ondre Rudolph of the ball at the Chabot 41- yard line, but failed to score as kicker Joel Chavez missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.
“We got beat on offense, we got beat on defense, we got beat on special teams,” said Kimble. “You lose when that happens.”
Kimble would later find wide receiver Michael Seawell for a four-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-13.
“ [Kimble is] just a gamer and does whatever it takes to win,” said sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Wagner. “He plays hard.”
Delta running back, Evan Owens, broke free for a 38-yard run in the first drive of the fourth quarter.
“We have some really talented ball carriers and when we give them a little room they do some special things,” said coach Barlow.
Down 42-13, Phillip Kimble and wide receiver Alec Von connected for a 36-yard touchdown play.
The Mustangs continue Valley Conference play at the College of Sequoias (4-2, 0-1) on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.