COLEMAN HAS 3 TDS TO SPARK PANTHERS
Chico improves to 2-1 by taking 17-0 halftime lead and holding off Foothill for home victory
CHICO »Dion Coleman broke one tackle then pointed to the sky as he was off free to the end zone.
Coleman, the Panthers’ sophomore running back, had his second standout game in as many weeks. Coleman broke free to score all three touchdowns including a 42-yard run that extended Chico’s cushion and sealed the 24-14 victory over Foothill on Friday night during homecoming.
“He knows how to read his blocks and the team feeds off it,” said Chico head coach Jason Alvistur. “It’s uncommon for a sophomore to bring that kind of energy but he does. The line gets fired up blocking for him.”
Foothill whittled the Panthers’ lead to 17-14 with just over six min
utes remaining.
Then the Panthers (21) sputtered on their next possession as the Cougars scooped up a fumble to take over at the Chico 16.
But the Panthers’ defense didn’t falter and instead responded with three big stops.
First, Adon Newberry rushed in for a tackle for a loss. Then the following play was broken up by the Panthers’ secondary. On third down, the defense rushed in again for a sack, pushing the Cougars (1-1) back to the 20-yard line.
On fourth down, the Cougars’ 37-yard field goal attempt was no good, keeping Chico’s lead intact.
“The defense really tightened up when they needed to,” Alvistur said.
The Panthers started the evening off with an opening drive that ate up nearly the entire first quarter.
Panthers’ quarterback Gage James provided the spark to start the game.
After a penalty led to first down and 25 at Chico’s own 39, James executed a pair of plays to keep the drive alive. James connected with Troy Sommer for a 10-yard gain. Two plays later on fourth down and 5, James broke free and outstretched for the first down, lighting up the Panthers’ sideline.
“I just want to go out there and play for my team,” James said. “It’s very important to start the game that way because it gives us momentum the rest of the game. We were able to sustain drives for the rest of the game.”
Facing third down and 10, Sommer hauled in a 15yard pass from James for another first down. James found Saxon Farkas for a 7-yard catch which set up Coleman’s 1-yard run — his first score of the night — to give Chico the lead 7-0.
Chico’s defense came up with a critical turnover when Tad Hervey recovered a fumble early in the second quarter.
To start the ensuing drive, Coleman dragged several defenders to pick up 12 yards. Then two plays later, Coleman broke free through traffic for a 48-yard touchdown to give the hosts a 14-0 advantage.
Chico’s Cesar Moreno booted a 22-yard field goal as time expired to send the Panthers into halftime up 17-0.
In the third quarter, Coleman again cut through the defense through several defenders for a 79yard gain. However, the Panthers’ drive ended in a turnover after Foothill recovered a fumble.
That turnover led to the Cougars’ first score of the night, a 22-yard run by Davis Smith cutting the lead to 17-7 with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Foothill’s second touchdown came on a 26-yard catch by Brent Doyle to get within 17-14.
However, Coleman’s final run of the night secured a homecoming win for the Panthers.
“He’s just a beast,” James said of Coleman. “It’s still amazing when I see him. He’s a phenomenal player.”