football

Herd TE Armani Levias is more comfortable this spring

HUNTINGTON - Last year, Marshall University tight end Armani Levias arrived in Huntington as a junior college football prospect from Laney Community College in his hometown of Pittsburg, Calif.

Levias knew he was going to be in new territory - literally and figuratively - when he joined the Thundering Herd football program as a mid-year enrollee in Jan. 2017. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end was more than 2,500 miles from home and, at the time, he didn't exactly know what it took to be a football player at the NCAA Division I level.

As is the case with many junior college players, the increase in speed of the game consumed Levias at times last spring as he made the adjustment.

"Last year, I was the new kid on the block and I couldn't get the plays down," Levias said. "My head was hurting, my eyes were big. I just had to learn how to practice."

For Levias, it was about listening and taking in everything around him, which included hearing the coaching of former position coach Bill Legg and especially learning on the field from senior leader Ryan Yurachek.

Levias credited Yurachek for getting him through when times became tough last season.

"If I didn't know my assignment on my job, I asked him and he pointed out what I needed to do," Levias said. "When you have a good example, it's easy to just do what he does. He might not have been as vocal as some, but he was a great leader for us. He made sure we stayed on our game if we messed up. I appreciate him for that."

Now, the charge of Levias and the other Marshall tight ends is to step in to fill the role of Yurachek, who contributed 490 yards while leading the team with 10 touchdown receptions.

Yurachek was the latest in a long lineage of successful tight ends at Marshall, meaning the onus is on Levias, Cody Mitchell, Xavier Gaines and Devin Miller to continue the trend beginning with this spring's practice sessions.

"From the Cody Slates and Lee Smiths, all the way through the Gator Hoskins to Emanuel Byrds to Ryan Yuracheks and the Eric Frohnapfels, there is a great history and tradition here," Marshall tight ends coach Todd Goebbel said. "You've got four great, young men that are willing to step up to the challenge and meet the standard and expectation of the position. From what I've seen in four practices, I think we've got a chance."

With Yurachek a three-year starter, there weren't many other players who got in two-deep repetitions last season.

And we're not just talking games, either.

"Not one guy in my (position) room, other than Cody Mitchell, has had a live practice rep, a meaningful rep - before this week," Goebbel said.

Levias said while there aren't many repetitions between them, there is a confidence about each guy, thanks to the work put in during offseason conditioning with head strength coach Luke Day and his staff.

"It means a lot because if I'm not 100 percent in shape, that means I can't give it my all," Levias said. "All the strength coaches, they've done a great job with me. There's a big improvement from since I came here and I'm just enjoying the process of getting better as a player."

The proof has been in Levias' execution and tempo on the field.

Last season at this time, Levias was slowed as he was trying to process what he was supposed to do before reacting on a particular play.

Now, he's moving at a better pace, which is vital for the offense under new coordinator Tim Cramsey.

"When we come out here, I'm not trying to focus on being perfect because I know when I start thinking a lot I don't go 100 percent," Levias said. "Now, I'm trying to think fast and go 100 miles per hour. It's my second go-round so I'm more comfortable and more relaxed. I don't have to think as much. I'm ready to play."

Levias and the Herd take part in their fifth practice of spring Thursday afternoon before getting set for Saturday's practice, which will feature live-ball situations.

Eagles’ Anderson is Bruin-bound

In the Laney athletics field house, nobody knows where he is right now, but everybody knows who he is and where he’ll be next month.

The assignment: find Je’Vari Anderson, Laney College’s standout defensive back. He’s heading to UCLA to play for the Bruins in the 2018 season.

In his career as an Eagles safety he played in 21 games with 32 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, and three interceptions. Last season, Anderson was named a Region I All-Conference and All-National Valley Conference player.

He signed on to UCLA Feb. 6 with a scholarship to play as a linebacker. This is the first time a Laney student has gone on to play football for UCLA, Anderson said.

“He’s violent,” head coach John Beam said. “He understands the game. He’s explosive when he comes to make a play. People like that.”

Anderson is “football smart,” as Beam puts it, and he’s capable of much more than an impressive approach to playing the sport.

“They see this football player but he’s actually much deeper than that off the field. He’s introspective, he thinks things through and he’s a good human being,” Beam said.

Strength and conditioning coach Antuan Webb broke down what he saw as the story of Anderson’s success. “He came into the Laney program and has been a great citizen,” Webb said.

“Hard work in the classroom, hard work in the weight room, and on Friday and Saturday nights, he received an ‘A’ on the football field.”

After a false start out of football powerhouse De la Salle High School, Anderson now feels as though he knows how to stay focused. “I took school really seriously this time,” he said. “Laney’s been a great experience. The teachers and staff are great, and the coaches here are very organized.”

The shift from linebacker at Laney to safety at UCLA should be an easy one for Anderson. “He’s a bigger, thicker guy than he was,” Beam said, “so he’s changing into more of what we call a ‘down-the-box player’. He’s moving to the front end, and he’ll start five yards closer to the ball.”

Anderson’s versatility on the field is an advantage, and one that is still relatively new to football.

“Right now it’s not as common as it should be, but it’s definitely moving that way. Kids are built differently, and they can compete in multiple positions,” Anderson said.

He is aiming to get his graduate degree in neuropsychology, but he isn’t looking too far ahead. “I’m concentrating on my undergrad and excelling in my football season,” he said.

Anderson feels as though he learned the skills at Laney that he needed to make the grade at UCLA. “[Coach] Beam took academics really seriously here,” he said. “He makes time for it cause that’s what we’re here for anyway, right? A second chance.”

Anderson will be leaving behind many friends and admirers at Laney College. “The other day I programmed him in my phone as Mr. Anderson, because when I think of ‘mister’, I think of someone I really respect,” Webb said.

Goodbye, Mr. Anderson, you’ll be missed.

Eva Hannan is sports editor for the Laney Tower.

End game: Lobos hope Sellers, Austin provide pass rush

Who’s going to be that pass rusher off the edge?

Trent Sellers and Erin Austin are auditioning three times a week.

Austin, from Brentwood, Calif., in the Bay Area, and Sellers, from Tyrone, Ga., southwest of Atlanta, came to the University of New Mexico with impressive résumés as defensive ends adept at getting into the other team’s backfield.

Last fall at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., Austin was in on 47 tackles with five sacks and 16½ tackles for loss. At Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, Sellers led the team’s defensive linemen with 40 tackles and 8½ tackles for loss.

Stats are merely stats, and a great many things can affect those numbers. But, last season, the Lobos did not have a productive pass rusher at defensive end.

Garrett Hughes, who in 2016 had 7½ tackles for loss and 6½ sacks, had corresponding numbers of four and two last fall as a senior. Cody Baker and Emmanuel Joseph, who return this year, combined for 4½ and four.

As a team, the Lobos finished with 21 sacks, ranked 95th in the nation (among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams). They had 59 tackles for loss, ranked 99th.

Expectations for Sellers and Austin are high, but not sky-high just yet — not even their own.

“I’m taking it one step at a time,” Austin said after Wednesday’s spring practice session. “I’ve got to get better now. I’ve got to get bigger, stronger, faster.

“… I’m taking it gradually, but by Sept. 1 I’ll be ready.”

The Lobos open the 2018 season on that date against Incarnate Word, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision school in San Antonio, Texas.

Sellers is a “bounce-back,” having spent two seasons at Georgia Tech — the first as a redshirt — in 2015-16.

“At the time, I felt like it was a good fit for me, somewhere I could go and thrive,” he said. “… Some things changed, and I decided it was best for me to open up my options and go somewhere else.”

One of his fellow Georgia Tech D-lineman was Desmond Branch, the former Cleveland Storm all-stater who signed with UNM out of high school. Branch redshirted in 2014, found the UNM program not to his liking and transferred to Trinity Valley College in Athens, Texas. He signed with Tech in 2016.

Branch is a good friend, Sellers said, and the two discussed Branch’s UNM experience before Sellers signed in December.

Junior college transfer Trent Sellers works out during practice. (Greg Sorber/Albuquerque Journal)

“Everything’s a different fit for everybody,” Sellers said. “Everybody goes through things differently, has different situations. (Branch) told me to go wherever I feel like I could go and be successful, and that was my mindset, too.”

Sellers chose UNM over offers from Memphis, New Mexico State and Southern Mississippi.

Austin had offers from San Diego State and UNLV, New Mexico’s Mountain West Conference rivals. Two factors, he said, combined to bring him to Albuquerque.

First, running back Ahmari Davis, a Laney teammate, decided to sign with UNM.

“We wanted to go to school together,” Austin said, “because it’s always good to have somebody that you’re familiar with to go through this process with.”

Second, but equally important, UNM defensive line coach Stan Eggen challenged him.

“It was just his determination, the things he was saying about being great, not being average,” Austin said. “It wasn’t just winning games. …It was winning conference (championships), winning bowl games.”

The year before Austin’s arrival at Laney, the Eagles had gone 4-6. They went 9-2 in both of his two seasons there.

Last year, the Lobos went 3-9.

“I wanted to come here and help (rebuild), put the pieces together,” he said.

Eggen said that, through 10 of 15 spring workouts, he has been pleased with his group. Baker, who started 11 games last fall as a junior, leads the way.

“I think we’ve got more depth right now (than in the past),” Eggen said. “We’ve still got a long way to go before we’re ready to play, but I really believe that when I come into that meeting room I see guys, all of them, that can help us.”

Of Austin and Sellers, he said, “They’ve been a very pleasant surprise. I knew they were gonna be good, but they’ve exceeded (expectations). They don’t flinch, and I’m excited about their progress and what they’ll bring to us next fall.”

INJURY REPORT: Senior quarterback Coltin Gerhart has missed practice time with an ankle injury, defensive coordinator and acting head coach Kevin Cosgrove said.

“We’re working him (back in) slowly but surely,” Cosgrove said. “He’ll be fine going into the fall.”

Saturday: UNM football “Spring Showcase,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Dreamstyle Stadium

UCLA lands JUCO DB Je’Vari Anderson commitment

UCLA plucked another prospect from high school powerhouse De La Salle on Wednesday as safety/linebacker Je’Vari Anderson announced his verbal commitment to the Bruins for the 2018 recruiting class.

Anderson went to Laney College out of De La Salle, the Bay Area school that also produced UCLA defensive lineman Boss Tagaloa and tight end Devin Asiasi. The 6-foot, 220-pound recruit is head coach Chip Kelly’s 14th known verbal commit for the 2018 class with two weeks left until National Signing Day.

During two seasons at Laney, Anderson had 32 tackles and three interceptions. He was also considering Kansas State, Cincinnati and UNLV.

Anderson is the second defensive back commit for the Bruins during the past week and third overall. He joins fellow three-star prospect Patrick Jolly, who pledged to UCLA on Sunday, and St. John Bosco High safety Stephan Blaylock, who signed his national letter of intent last month.

Anderson’s versatility could also allow him to bolster UCLA’s thin linebacker group that struggled with injuries last season. The Bruins were so shorthanded at linebacker that they made a midseason move to convert Keisean Lucier-South from defensive line. UCLA’s old coaching staff frequently converted defensive backs to linebackers as three of the team’s linebackers last season — DeChaun Holiday, Brandon Burton and Leni Toailoa — were recruited to play in the secondary.

Kelly’s recruiting class ranks 31st in the country and fourth in the Pac-12, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. With eight commits already signed, the Bruins can ink the remainder of their recruiting class on Feb. 7, the first day of the traditional signing period.

Laney Football Early Signings 2017

Six Laney College football players have signed letters-of-intent to attend four-year schools during the early signing period that ended in December.

All-American running back Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) and All-American defensive lineman Erin Austin (Heritage HS) have signed letters to attend the University of New Mexico.

Two offensive linemen, Brian Robinson (Moreau Catholic HS) and Bruce Burns (Arroyo HS) both signed LOIs with the University of Idaho.

Defensive back Zach Zimmerman (Monroe HS-Monroe, WA) signed with the University of North Dakota and linebacker Joseph Butler (Sam Houston HS-San Antonio) signed with Texas A&M-Commerce.

Burns (as were Davis and Austin) was named to both the All-America Football Team and the All-California Region I Football Team. Butler was also named to the Region I team.

By Scott A. Strain

Laney College Sports Information

Broncos’ C.J. Anderson planning sports and academic complex for youth in hometown

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson has grand plans — and not just on the field.

Anderson’s “Dreams Never Die Foundation” launched Thursday and announced plans to transform an old recreation center in his hometown of Vallejo, Calif., into a community center for academic mentorship and athletic training for local youth.

The plans call for a complete remodel of the current complex, plus the installation of two basketball courts, a batting cage, a 19,000-square-foot academic center and, down the road, a football field that will be home to a Pop Warner football team.

By 2020, Anderson’s foundation hopes to launch its academic and athletic programs to provide tutoring and college preparation, as well access to its training facility and guidance in NCAA scholarships and eligibility.

The academic program will be geared to students from grade school to high school in nearby districts and will require each to submit bi-weekly reports to monitor their standing in school. SAT and ACT prep courses, as well as help in targeting prospective colleges and applying schools, will be provided to upperclassmen.

By 2022, the foundation hopes to have 10 of its students in college, while it continues to expand the sports complex and the program’s capacity.

Laney College @ American River College

The Laney College football team scored four touchdowns in the second half but came up short in a 41-35 loss to No.2 American River College in Sacramento on Nov. 18 in the first round of the Northern California playoffs.

The Eagles the No.4 seed in NorCal and champions of the National Valley Conference finished the season 9-2.

Statistically Laney dominated the game, outgaining the Beavers (10-1) 365 yards to 180 and the defense held ARC to just five yards rushing. The Eagles also had twice as many first downs (24) as the Beavers (12). ARC had no first downs in the second half.

Laney tied the game at 6-6 when Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) scored on a 17-yard run with 3:31 left to play in the first quarter. Davis’ score capped a 12-play, 87-yard drive that took almost six minutes off the clock.

Down 27-6 at half, Laney started its comeback in the third quarter when Davis scored his second touchdown, this one coming on an 8-yard run with 7:03 left in the period.

The Eagles got the benefit of a safety when defensive lineman Erin Austin (Heritage HS) sacked the ARC quarterback, who recovered his own fumble in his own end zone with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

Laney scored three times in the fourth quarter to make it close. Davis scored his third touchdown on a 5-yard run with 10:01 left and Marcel Dancy (Merrill F. West HS) scored 4-yard run with 4:02 remaining.

The Eagles closed out the scoring when quarterback Noah Suszckiewicz (Berkeley HS) threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Dancy with 1:09 left.

Davis and Susckiewicz were the two leading rushers for Laney, Davis gaining 96 yards on 18 carries and Susckiewicz 71 yards on 13 carries.

Susckiewicz was 23 for 34 for 182 yards passing. Jared Smart (Dublin HS) caught seven passes for 57 yards and Devond Blair Jr. (Bunche HS-Oakland) had six catches for 54 yards.

On defense, linebacker Armani Turner-Jenkins (Berkeley HS) had eight tackles (four solo) and linebacker Cameron Nathan (Antioch HS) finished with seven (five solo).

Jonathan Whittley (Castlemont HS) had five tackles, which included three sacks for 25 yards in losses. Nathan had the other sack.

By Scott A. Strain

Laney College Sports Information

The Laney College football team has won the National Valley Conference and qualified for the Northern California state playoffs for the first time.

The Laney College football team has won the National Valley Conference and qualified for the Northern California state playoffs for the first time.

The Eagles (9-1, 5-0 NVC) won the title outright with a 34-8 victory over Chabot College in Hayward on Nov.  11.

Laney, fifth in the State Coaches poll and seeded No.4 in the NorCal playoffs, will travel to Sacramento to play top-seeded American River College (9-1) in a first-round game on Saturday, Nov. 18. Game time is 6 p.m.

If the Eagles prevail against the Beavers, they will play the winner of No. 3 College of the Siskiyous vs. No. 2 College of San Mateo the following weekend.

The current format for state playoffs has been in existence for four years and the Eagles have never qualified for it, but they have gone to bowl games, including last year’s 49-35 victory over City College of San Francisco in its own San Francisco Community College Bowl.

The victory over Chabot solidified Laney’s NVC championship. The Eagles defense turned in its best statistical performance of the season, holding the home Gladiators (2-8, 0-5) to just 57 yards of total offense.

Chabot had just three net yards rushing.

Noah Davis (Pleasant Valley HS) and Bishop Apodaka (Fremont HS-Oakland) each totaled had five tackles (Davis five solo; Apodaka four) and Jonathan Whittley (Castlemont HS) had three of Laney’s four sacks. Brandon Hill (Oakland Tech HS) had the other.

Offensively, the Eagles were led by running back Marcel Dancy, who had 142 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns.

Laney scored twice in the first quarter to take a 10-0 lead. Dancy scored on an 18-yard run and KC Onwuemeka (Hercules HS) kicked a 33-yard field goal.

The Eagles upped the lead to 24-0 when quarterback Noah Suszckiewicz scored on a 35-yard run and Dancy scored on a 10-yard run.

Laney capped an 11-play, 84-yard drive in the third quarter when Suszckiewicz threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Jake Ramsey (Dougherty Valley HS) with 5:57 left in the third quarter.

Onwuemeka’s 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter completed the Eagles’ scoring.

By Scott A. Strain

Laney College Sports Information

All-Conference Selections

The Laney Eagles finished Valley Conference play with a perfect 5-0 record, while earning 13 All-Conference selections, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year! Congrats to the Laney Eagles football team and awards winners!

Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year - RB Ahmari Davis

Ahmari Davis - Offensive Player of the Year.jpeg

Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year - LB Joseph Butler

Joseph Butler - Defensive Player of the Year.jpeg

Valley Conference Coach of the Year - John Beam

John Beam - Coach of the Year.jpeg

All-Conference Selections:

RB Ahmari Davis

RB Marcel Dancy

OL Bruce Burns

OL Brian Robinson

OL Andres Guzman

OL George Vehikite

DL Erin Austin

DL Malik McPherson

LB Joseph Butler

LB Cameron Nathan
LB Jonathan Whittely

DB Je'Vari Anderson

DB Da'Meak Brandon

The Laney College football team won the National Valley Conference championship with a 40-33 victory over Modesto Junior College on Nov. 3 in Oakland.

The Laney College football team won the National Valley Conference championship with a 40-33 victory over Modesto Junior College on Nov.  3 in Oakland.

The Eagles (8-1, 4-0 NVC) finish their regular season on Saturday, Nov.  11 against Chabot College in Hayward. Game time is 6 p.m.

The Northern California playoff pairings won’t be decided until after this weekend’s slate of games are concluded.

But Laney, for the first time, is included.

The Eagles currently ranked No. 5 in the JC Athletic Bureau Coaches poll, pulled away from the Pirates (2-2, 4-5) after leading only 21-20 at the end of the first half.

Laney was held to 58 yards rushing in the first two quarters, but finished with 236 yards on the ground and a total of 469 for the game.

Marcel Dancy (West-Oakland HS) took charge in the first half, scoring the Eagles’ first two touchdowns. He ran 28 yards for Laney’s first score, then caught a pass from quarterback Noah Suszckiewicz and went 84 yards for a 14-7 lead with 13:21 left in the second quarter.

Suszckiewicz threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Robert Stern (De Anza HS) that gave Laney that 21-20 halftime lead.

Then it was Ahmari Davis’ turn. Davis (James Logan HS) scored Laney’s next two touchdowns, the first coming on a 21-yard run in the third quarter ad then a 51-yarder to start the fourth quarter as the Eagles took a 35-20 lead.

Modesto score the next touchdown, but Joseph Butler (Houston HS-San Antonio) picked up a blocked PAT attempt and ran the length of the field to give the Eagles two points and a 37-26 lead with 12:36 left in the game.

Laney’s final points came on KC Onwuemeka’s (Hercules HS) 18-yard field goal with 7:02 left.

Davis finished with 147 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. Dancy had 94 yards on 11 carries and one score. He also caught three passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Suszckiewicz completed nine of 18 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, linebacker Cameron Nathan (Antioch HS) had his best game of the season with 17 tackles (14 solo); Butler 10 tackles (8 solo); and Da’Meak Brandon (La Salle HS-Cincinnati) had an interception.

By Scott A. Strain

Laney College Sports Information

Laney Football Wins at Fresno City, Leads National Valley Conference

The Laney College football team scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat Fresno City College 30-23 on Oct. 28 in Fresno and took the lead the National Valley Conference with a 3-0 record.

The Eagles, 7-1 overall, have won six straight games. They play host to Modesto Junior College (4-4, 2-1 NVC) on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) rushed for 193 yards and scored on a 41-yard run with 11:36 left in the fourth quarter. KC Onwuemeka (Hercules HS) kicked the extra point that tied the score at 23-23.

Andrew Ve'e (Encinal HS) threw a 4-yard scoring pass to Marcel Dancy (West HS-Oakland) with 10:09 left in the game for what proved to be the game-winniner.

The Laney defense forced three turnovers, with linebacker Joseph Butler (Sam Houston HS, San Antonio, TX) and Zach Zimmerman (Monroe HS, Monroe, LA) getting interceptions.  

The Eagles had no turnovers.

If it is anything, this Laney College football team is resilient

If it is anything, this Laney College football team is resilient.

The Eagles (6-1, 2-0 National Valley Conference) came from behind three times to finally defeat a stubborn College of the Sequoias team 34-17 on Oct. 20 in Oakland.

Laney was down 3-0, 10-6 and 17-13 before scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) rushed for 90 yards and scored the Eagles’ first touchdown on a 25-yard run with 13:46 left in the second quarter. Laney’s other first-half score came with 44 seconds left when Noah Suszckiewicz (Berkeley HS) threw a 22-yard pass to Devond Blair Jr. (Bunche HS-Oakland) for a 13-10 lead.

After the Giants (2-5, 0-2) scored on the first play of the third quarter, the Eagles got back on top for good when Blair Jr. caught a 24-yard scoring pass from Suszckiewicz with 5:31 reaming in the third quarter.

Quarterback Andrew Ve’e (Encinal HS) scored on a 3-yard run 44 seconds into the fourth quarter and Marcel Dancy (West HS-Oakland) added a 13-yard scoring run with 8:39 left in the game.

Laney took advantage of three turnovers and had eight sacks on defense. Defensive back Zach Zimmerman (Monroe HS-Monroe, LA) returned an interception 31 yards.

Linebackers Joseph Butler (Houston HS-San Antonio) and Bishop Apodaka (Fremont HS-Oakland) each finished with seven tackles. Butler had four solo tackles; Apodaka had four.

Butler also had three sacks and three tackles for losses (TFL). Apodaka had two sacks and two TFL.

Armani Turner-Jenkins (Berkeley HS) and Erin Austin (Heritage HS-Brentwood each had six tackles. Turner-Jenkins had five solo tackles; Austin had four solo tackles and two sacks; Turner-Jenkins had one sack.

Austin was credited with 3.5 TFL and Turner-Jenkins had 1.5 TFL.

The Eagles’ next game is at Fresno City College on Saturday, Oct. 28. Game time is 6 p.m.

By Scott Strain

Laney College Sports Information

Laney College’s football winning streak reached four in a row after the Eagles dumped San Joaquin Delta College 40-7 on Oct. 14 in Stockton.

Laney College’s football winning streak reached four in a row after the Eagles dumped San Joaquin Delta College 40-7 on Oct. 14 in Stockton.

Running back Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) rushed for 146 yards on 17 carries and Marcel Dancy (West HS-Oakland) had 83 yards on 15 carries as the Eagles (5-1, 1-0 NVC) piled up 504 yards of total offense. The stout Laney defense allowed the Mustangs only 168 yards.

It was the National Valley Conference opener for both teams. With the victory, Laney moved up to No. 7 in the JC Athletic Bureau coaches poll.

After the Mustangs (1-5, 0-1) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Eagles quarterback Noah Suszckiewicz (Berkeley HS) threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Beejay Byrd (John Swett HS) with 4:48 left in the first quarter. Isaak Prada (Arroyo HS) kicked the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7.

But then it was all Laney. Davis scored his first touchdown on a 59-yard run with 12:17 left in the second quarter then added a 10-yard scoring run with 3:25 left as the Eagles drove 98 yards in 13 plays.

Laney led 19-7 at the half.

The Eagles added three more scores in the second half. Suszckiewicz threw a 45-yard TD pass to Robert Stern (DeAnza HS) and Dancy scored on a 1-yard run. Both came in the third quarter.

The Eagles’ final score came when quarterback Andrew Ve’e (Encinal HS) threw one yard to Keith Tracy (Antioch HS) for a touchdown with nine minutes left in the game.

Linebacker Joseph Butler (Houston HS-San Antonio) had his best game statistically with 12 tackles (eight solo), two sacks and five tackles for losses (TFL). Armani Turner-Jenkins (Berkeley HS) was right behind Butler with 11 tackles (eight solo) and three TFL.

The Eagles had four sacks for 27 yards lost.

By Scott Strain

Laney College Sports Information

The Laney College football team continues to pound it on the ground

The Laney College football team continues to pound it on the ground.

The Eagles rushed for 323 yards in a 34-6 grinding of visiting Contra Costa College on Sept. 28 in Oakland.

Laney finished the non-conference portion of its season with a 4-1 record. The Eagles have a bye week Oct. 6-7 and then start National Valley Conference play against San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The Eagles’ next home game is Friday, Oct. 20 against College of the Sequoias.

Ahmari Davis (James Logan HS) rushed for 153 yards on 16 carries and Marcel Dancy (West HS-Oakland) had 21 carries for 136 yards. Each player scored a touchdown.

Laney took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in eight plays with Andrew Ve’e (Encinal HS) scoring on a 1-yard run. The Eagles took a 20-6 lead at the half when quarterback Noah Suszckiewicz (Berkeley HS) threw a 36-yard scoring pass to Devond Blair (Bunche HS-Oakland) and Davis went 20 yards for a TD. Both scores came in the second quarter.

Dancy scored on an 11-yard run with 47 seconds left in the third quarter and Zach Zimmerman (Monroe HS-Monroe, Wash.) returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown with 2:23 left in the game.

 Ronnie Van set the Laney record with a 95-yard interception return in in 1968.

Defensively, the Eagles held Contra Costa (0-5) to 208 yards of total offense. The Comets ran 76 plays, but averaged just 2.7 yards on each one.

Cameron Nathan (Antioch HS) had 11 tackles, seven solo.  Joseph Butler (Sam Houston HS-San Antonio) had 9 tackles, 8 solo; and Erin Austin (Heritage HS) had six solo, including three for losses. Jonathan Whittley (Castlemont) had two of Laney’s three sacks; Butler had the other.

By Scott Strain

Laney College Sports Information

Football's Palandech A Semifinalist For Prestigious Campbell Trophy

UNLV senior quarterback Kurt Palandech is one of 71 FBS-level semifinalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy®, presented by Fidelity Investments, as announced Wednesday by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Palandech, a former junior college transfer from Plainfield, Illinois, is in his third season at UNLV and has started six of his 25 games at quarterback as well as serving as the team's holder on kicks. As a Rebel he has passed for 1,441 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 675 net yards and nine more scores.

Of the 181 overall semifinalists from the FBS, FCS, Division II and III and NAIA levels, Palandech is one of just 60 with a career cumulative grade point average of 3.7 or better. He earned his bachelor's degree in business in the spring with a 3.76 GPA and is currently pursuing his MBA at the school. Before the season, Palandech became the first quarterback to be voted by UNLV coaches and seniors as the Wiesner Award winner, an honor that goes to the player who best exemplifies the courage, enthusiasm, dedication and toughness of the late Mr. Tom Wiesner. The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on November 1, and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 5. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 28th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

"The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees as well as their schools and coaches on their tremendous accomplishments," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist's achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."

Nominated by their schools' athletic communications offices, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, be a significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program became the first initiative in history to award postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and it has recognized 828 outstanding individuals since its inception. The Campbell Trophy®, was first awarded in 1990.

The Laney College Eagles continued on their offensive roll, pummeling De Anza College 60-7 on Sept. 22 in Oakland

The Laney College Eagles continued on their offensive roll, pummeling De Anza College 60-7 on Sept. 22 in Oakland.

It was the fourth time in Eagles’ football history that the team has scored 60 or more points in a game.

The victory moved Laney up five spots to ninth in the JC Athletic Bureau of California Community College poll.

Ahmari Davis (16, carries, 77 yards) scored three touchdowns and Marcel Dancy (10 carries, 131 yards) scored twice as Laney piled up 300 yards on the ground. The Eagles gained 481 yards of total offense.

Laney took the lead on its opening drive, driving 64 yards in 10 plays and finished when Noah Suszckiewicz threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Keith Tracy with 11:53 left.

Dancy caped off the Eagles’ second series when he bolted 65 yards for a score to make it 12-0.

Laney scored three times in the second quarter to put the game away. Quarterback Andrew Ve’e ran 4 yards for one score, Suszckiewcz threw 27 yards to Devond Blair Jr., for another, and Dancy ran 4 yards to cap off the 39-7 halftime lead.

The Eagles scored three more times in the second half, with Davis scoring on runs of 9 and 11 yards and Kendall Prater going 1 yard for the final touchdown.

Defensively, Laney held De Anza to 186 yards and just 22 yards rushing. The Eagles had four sacks, resulting in 18 yards in losses. Leo Rodriguez was credited with 1.5 sacks; Vili Paea one; Cameron Nathan one; and Jordan Whittley had a half.

Zach Zimmerman recovered fumble and Erin Austin blocked a punt.

Laney’s next game is at home against Contra Costa College on Friday, Sept. 29. The Eagles defeated the Comets 21-20 in 2016 and are 5-0 against the San Pablo team.

Game time is 7 p.m.

NOTES: Laney’s other 60+ point games:

Nov. 11, 1965—Laney 60, Gavilan College 0

Oct. 24, 2008—Laney 66, Los Medanos College 17

Nov. 15, 2013—Laney 68, Sacramento City College 0

By Scott A. Strain

Laney College Sports Information

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