Jerrell Alberty

The Laney College football team is now the top-ranked team in Northern California

The Laney College football team is now the top-ranked team in Northern California.

The Eagles moved up to No. 3 in the JC Athletic Bureau/California Community College football coaches poll after overwhelming mistake-prone West Hills College 77-12 on Sept. 21 in Oakland to improve their record to 4-0.

Laney now faces its toughest test of the nonconference portion of the season when it plays host to Butte College (3-1) of Oroville on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners are coming off a big 42-21 home victory over City College of San Francisco on Sept. 22.

The Eagles blocked two punts and returned an interception for a touchdown as they scored the most points in the 53-year history of football program.

Quarterback Jordon Brookshire (Cardinal-Newman High School-Santa Rosa) completed 11 of 16 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jared Smart () for 1 and 30 yards respectively.

Running back John McDonald (Lincoln HS-Stockton) rushed for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns on runs of 8 and 11 yards.

The Eagles led 42-6 at the half and 70-6 at the end of three quarters. Running back Jerrell Alberty (McClymonds HS) rushed for 58 yards on five carries and scored on runs of 15 and 26 yards.

Quarterback Junior Diala (American HS) threw a 38-yard scoring pass to Angelo Garrett (MClymonds HS) and also scored on a 1-yard run.

The Lane defense held the Falcons to 171 yards of total offense and reached the end zone twice. Nahshon Wright (James Logan HS) scored on a 20-yard interception return and, after Damon Lynch (Manteca HS) blocked a punt, Jaelyn Thomas (Freedom HS) fell on the ball in the West Hills end zone for a touchdown.

Ryan Mackey (Rio Vista HS) scored the Eagles’ last touchdown on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, linebacker Armani Turner-Jenkins (Berkeley HS) had seven solo tackles—eight overall—and Laney defenders had six sacks and 12 tackles for losses, spread among 11 players.

By Scott A. Strain, Laney College Sports Information