Three Hancock Football Players Tackle All-State Honors
Three Allan Hancock College football players have received all-state recognition from the California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA). Tight end Dominic Chance and offensive lineman Lesone Smith, both sophomores, were named to the Region IV All-California First Team Offense. Sophomore linebacker Basiru Jobe was named to the Region IV All-California First Team Defense. Region IV includes American Division teams only.
Chance played linebacker for Hancock last season and successfully transitioned to tight end in 2017. He finished with 10 catches for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He scored a 31-yard touchdown to seal Hancock's 21-7 win at Antelope Valley to clinch the league title. He also caught a five-yard touchdown in the bowl game. Hancock Head Coach Kris Dutra praised Chance for his physicality, versatility and intelligence, and said his blocking was a key factor in the Bulldogs' success running the football. Chance was already named the Pacific League's Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Bulldog to win the league's top honor in five seasons.
Smith, a two-time all-league selection for the Bulldogs, anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line all season. He provided protection for quarterback Jimmy Kelleher, and helped Hancock average 236.7 rushing yards and 367 total yards per game.
Jobe led the conference and ranked fourth in the state with 107 total tackles this season. The linebacker finished with 6.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The transfer from Nassau Community College set a Hancock record for most tackles in a game with 20 stops against Santa Ana. Jobe also compiled 16 total tackles against Antelope Valley and 14 against Southwestern.
During the fall, the Bulldogs went unbeaten in league play at 5-0 to win the program's first outright conference title since 1997. Hancock hosted the American Championship Bowl and lost to Southwestern 35-14 to finish the season at 8-3 overall. It marked the first time in six seasons the Bulldogs hosted a bowl game.
