Butte will try to end skid with road trip
After Fresno Saturday, GVC play opens Oct. 16 against Santa Rosa JC
In Butte College’s home loss to Modesto Junior College last week, the Roadrunners recorded the most yards on offense by nearly 100 yards of its season thus far, 402, despite putting just 17 points on the scoreboard in the 38-17 loss. Penalties played a large part into the loss, as Butte recorded 14 penalties for 142 yards opposed to Modesto’s five penalties for 45 yards.
Despite the struggles with penalties, Butte nearly tied the game in the third quarter when the offense had the ball at the Modesto 13 yard line, before a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown returned the momentum to Modesto and upped the Pirate lead to 31-17. Butte also held the ball for nearly 13 minutes longer than Modesto in week four.
Butte (2-2) will look to get back to its winning ways Saturday when it travels to Fresno to take on Fresno City College (3-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. The Roadrunners opened the season with back-to-back wins against College of the Sequoias and Laney College, before dropping their last two games to College of San Mateo and Modesto.
In the Junior College Athletic Bureau Coaches poll released Wednesday, Butte dropped four spots from No. 10 last week to No. 14 following back-to-back losses. In the California Community College Sports Information Association poll Butte dropped fell from No. 13 prior to last week’s game to No. 20 in this week’s rankings. The Roadrunners’ opponent this
week, Fresno City College, ranks 10th in the JCABC poll and is No. 11 in the CCCSIA rankings.
The Roadrunners had trouble containing the mobile Modesto quarterback Gino Campiotti in week four. He passed for 171 yards and ran for 132 yards, but Butte coach Robby Snelling said not all quarterbacks have the athletic ability of Campiotti and it is not something to worry about.
The Butte defense will be up against another running quarterback in week five. Fresno City quarterback Justin Holaday leads his team in rushing with 257 yards and six touchdowns. Holaday has passed for 530 yards and five touchdowns. Butte’s defense will look to capitalize on possible turnovers, as Holaday has thrown three interceptions and fumbled the ball four times rushing the ball.
The Rams have wins over Chabot, Santa Rosa and American River, but are coming off a loss to San Mateo, which beat Butte in week three.
Butte quarterback Brian Harper has thrown for 679 yards and six touchdowns through four games, and has rushed 32 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Harper’s passing touchdown total is second amongst has yet to find the end zone.
On defense, freshman linebacker Tucker St. Andre leads Butte in tackles with 30, including 7 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and also has one interception. St. Andre has 7.5 tackles per game which ranks second amongst GVC defenders. Isaiah Ward and Peyton Elmendorf have two sacks each for Butte.
Following Saturday’s matchup with Fresno City College, Butte will have a bye week before beginning conference play at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at Santa Rosa Junior College.