NorCal juco roundup: Laney storms past ARC, and more

In a marquee showdown this past Friday night between two of Northern California’s top junior college football programs, Laney College scored the final 28 points of the game against visiting American River to overcome a one-point deficit after the first quarter and roll to the 41-14 victory.

A 56-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Cruz to Nate Thomas gave ARC a 14-13 lead with 27 seconds left in the first quarter, but it was all Eagles from there, as a pair of short touchdown runs in the second quarter from quarterback Jordon Brookshire gave Laney a 27-14 halftime advantage and they continued to dominate play in the second half. The Eagles finished the night with a whopping 547 yards of total offense, while holding American River to just 213 total yards.

Brookshire, who was a league MVP at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa before sitting out last season, controlled the game with his arm and legs for Laney. The dual-threat signal-caller completed 17-of-23 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 46 yards and two scores. His effort was complemented by a big night on the ground from John McDonald, who ran for 122 yards and one touchdown each rushing and receiving.

“It always feel good to win, especially against a strong opponent, but that game is over now and we just need to be ready for the next one and take it one step at a time,” Brookshire said. “Even with my own performance, there were mistakes that I made, things for me to improve on and correct before the next game.”

McDonald’s 20-yard scoring run in the first quarter capped an opening statement by the Laney offense, a nine-play, 90-yard drive on the first possession of the game. After American River tied the game on a one-yard touchdown pass from Cruz to Logan Paulson, the Eagles regained the advantage on a 29-yard pass from Brookshire to Jared Smart (Dublin HS), who had eight catches for 153 yards.

Dior Walker (Deer Valley-Antioch) also had a big night receiving for Laney, with four catches for 70 yards. Linebacker Cameron Nathan (Antioch) led the defense with eight tackles, while Jahari Kay (San Leandro) made his presence felt with four tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and a sack. Armani Turner-Jenkins (Berkeley) had five total tackles, while Derrick Quesada (John Swett) rounded out a strong performance by the linebackers with another four tackles, including a tackle for a loss.

Laney improved to 2-0 with the win, while ARC fell to 1-1.

Laney Defeats American River College 41-14

Laney College quarterback Jordon Brookshire scored two touchdowns and wide receiver Jared Smart had eight receptions for 153 yards as the 10th-ranked Eagles defeated fourth-ranked American River College of Sacramento in impressive fashion, defeating the Beavers 41-14 on Sept. 7 in Oakland.

Laney (2-0) will travel to Quincy on Saturday, Sept. 15, to play Feather River College. Game time is 5 p.m. The Golden Eagles (1-1) lost at Diablo Valley College 29-21 on Sept. 7.

Laney and ARC combined for four touchdowns in the first quarter with the Beavers holding a 14-13 lead. John McDonald (Lincoln High School-Stockton) scored on a 20-yard run on the Eagles’ first drive of the game for a 7-0 lead.

After the Beavers tied the game, Brookshire (Cardinal Newman HS) threw a 29-yard scoring pass to Smart (Dublin HS).  

The Beavers scored again with 37 seconds left, but that was it for the visitors.

Laney took solid control of the game in the second quarter, scoring twice to take a 27-14 lead. Brookshire (12 carries 46 yards) scored twice on runs of 4 and 1 yards.

At the half, the Eagles had already rolled up 356 yards in total offense; they finished with 547 yards.

Brookshire threw his second touchdown pass when he connected with McDonald on a 1-yard toss with 5:44 left in the third quarter.

Freshman running back Aquantay Morris (Clark HS-Las Vegas) scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

For the game, Brookshire completed 17 of 23 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. McDonald carried 15 times for 122 yards, his second straight game of over 100 yards rushing.

Defensively, linebacker Cameron Nathan (Antioch HS) had eight tackles (two solo). Levon Barnett (Dwyer HS-Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Rejzohn Wright (James Logan HS) had interceptions.

By Scott A. Strain, Laney College Sports Information

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