Hancock Rallies to Upset No.10 and Undefeated Chaffey 26-24

A 72-yard touchdown strike from former St. Joseph High School teammates and a 45-yard field goal from Lompoc High School graduate Jose Morales lifted the Allan Hancock College football team to a thrilling 26-24 win at undefeated Chaffey, the 10^th ranked team in California, on Saturday evening. 

The Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season to improve to 1-2, while Chaffey dropped to 2-1 after the two programs' first-ever meeting.

Sophomore Logan Sprouse, an Atascadero High School graduate, hauled in two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter at the Chaffey 20-yard line that led to Morales' field goal that gave Hancock a 26-17 lead. 

The Bulldogs struck first when Jaylin Amerson scored on a 20-yard run to give Hancock a 7-0 lead with 6:51 to go in the first quarter. The scoring play came on the Bulldogs' first play of the drive after Sprouse intercepted a Dimitri Morales pass at the Chaffey 31-yard line. Chaffey tied it with a 63-yard scoring run by Cecil Fleming less than a minute later.

Hancock regained the lead early in the second quarter after Morales converted a 42-yard field goal attempt to cap a seven play, 54-yard drive.  The Bulldogs carried that lead into halftime and led until a botched play on Hancock's opening drive of the second half resulted in a safety, and Levi Plante connected with Marquis Wimberly for a three-yard score with 11:27 to play in the third quarter. After a two-point conversion, Chaffey had scored 10 points in a three-minute span to take a 17-10 lead. 

The Bulldogs answered late in the third when freshman quarterback Curry Parham hit Tristen Jeffries for a 30-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, so Hancock trailed 17-16 with 21 seconds left on the clock in the quarter. Morales kicked off to Chaffey's Michael Robert, who fumbled on the return and the ball was recovered by Hancock's Rafael Arellano at the Chaffey 10-yard line.  Hancock's ensuing drive resulted in no points after Chaffey stuffed Parham's quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-one from the one-yard line.  

After the Bulldog defense forced a Chaffey punt,  Parham connected with Karsh, a redshirt freshman, for a 72-yard touchdown strike to give Hancock the lead for good 23-17 with 10:24 to play in the game.  Karsh caught three passes for 94 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown.

Sprouse picked off his second pass to thwart another Chaffey drive and the Bulldogs turned it into three key points as Morales booted a 45-yarder to make it a 26-17 Hancock lead with 4:07 to play. Morales, a freshman, is a perfect 6 for 6 on field goal attempts this season.

Chaffey responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that finished with a nine-yard Alec Dana touchdown catch from Levi Plante.  Chaffey went for the on-side kick, but Hancock recovered it and ran out the final 2:30 on the clock to seal the victory.

Parham completed 17 of his 30 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jeffries caught three passes for 47 yards and a score. Breon Briggs and Amerson had three catches for 14 yards apiece, while PJ Smith and Lavelle Griffin had two receptions each.

The Bulldogs finished with 165 rushing yards led by 83 on seven carries from Lauina Futi. Wesley Williams, a freshman fullback from St. Joseph High School, had 49 yards on 13 carries. Amerson finished with 29 yards on seven carries. 

Willie Iribarren, a sophomore linebacker and Lompoc High School graduate, led the Bulldogs with 15 tackles, including one for lost yardage and one pass breakup.  Sprouse had six tackles, two interceptions with 38 return yards, and three pass breakups. He also averaged 40 yards on five punts and pinned three punts inside the 20-yard line.

Hancock's Tavian Robinson had two sacks for 19 yards, while freshman Kevon Perry had one sack for a five-yard loss. Arellano and linebacker Tim McCullough had one fumble recovery apiece.

Hancock opens National Northern League play next Saturday at Righetti High School at 4 p.m. against Bakersfield. The Bulldogs will host Youth Football Day, so all children who wear their football uniforms receive free admission.