Butte to honor state title team

Roadrunners went 12-0, won CCCAA championship in 2013

The Butte College men’s football team is set to host its second home game of the season Saturday, when the Roadrunners face off against Modesto Junior College at 1 p.m. at Cowan Stadium.

The Roadrunners (1-2) are coming off a 27-15 loss to City College of San Francisco, after shutting out Diablo Valley College 51-0 in the Roadrunners’ home opener.

At halftime of Saturday’s matchup against the Pirates, the Roadrunners will have a special ceremony honoring the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 state championship team. The Roadrunners are expecting anywhere

from 20-30 people returning, including former quarterback Tommy Stuart.

Several members of the current Butte College football staff were on that team, including current head coach Robby Snelling who was then the offensive coordinator. Also on that staff was current running backs coach and special teams coordinator Wally Funk, and current offensive coordinator Jon Hays. Current offensive line coach Jacob Vazquez was a left guard on the 2013 state championship team.

Indianapolis Colts’ punter and Hamilton High School alumnus Rigoberto Sanchez was a member of that team, in addition to defensive back Chris Edwards who currently plays in the Canadian football League.

In 2013 the Roadrunners went 12-0 under then-coach Jeff Jordan, the current chair of the health, kinesiology and athletics department at Butte College. The Roadrunners went unbeaten that season and defeated Fullerton College 28-13 in the California Community College Athletic Association Championship Game.

That 2013 state championship team was also named a national co-champion alongside East Mississippi, sharing the junior college national championship. The Roadrunners controlled the No. 1 spot in the CCCAA for 10 of 12 weeks throughout the season, but climbed only as high as No. 3 nationally before their showdown with Fullerton.

“I think comparing that to some other teams, like the 2008 team (that lost in the state championship), we were really bal

JACOB VAZQUEZ — CONTRIBUTED Former Butte College coach Willie Thomas, front center, sits with the players after they beat Fullerton 2813for the CCCAA State Championship on Dec. 14, 2013, in Butte Valley.