Comet offense overwhelms 49ers

Throughout the season, Comet coach Alonzo Carter and his football team have struggled to find an identity offensively. But Saturday’s game at Yuba College was a different story.

Strong efforts by running back Rashad Hall and wide receiver Ronald Butler led an offense that gained a total of 876 yards helping Contra Costa College seal a 40-10 victory in its Bay Valley Conference opening game against Yuba on Saturday.

“We (the offense) finally started clicking,” Butler, who caught three touchdown passes, said. “Coach told us that if we wanted to have a chance to win and reach the playoffs, we had to execute our game plan.”

CCC (3-3 overall, 1-0 in the BVC) was able to get its offense rolling against the 49ers (2-4 overall, 0-1 in the BVC) while continuing to make its presence known defensively as well.

The Comets entered Saturday’s match after a bye week which Carter and players deemed helpful as the squad had lost two consecutive games against Hartnell and Sacramento City colleges.

“We had two weeks to prepare for this BVC opening game and we wanted to get back to the basics,” Carter said. “We wanted to put the ball in our playmakers’ hands and hold (Yuba’s) running back under 100 yards.”

CCC was able to set the tone early offensively when Hall broke off a 27-yard run for a touchdown on the squad’s opening drive.

The Comets came back with another score on their second drive when sophomore quarterback Lamar McKnight identified a mishap in the 49ers’ defensive coverage, and connected with Butler on a screen pass that turned into a 21-yard touchdown.

“I wanted to see what (Yuba’s) cornerback would do in his coverage and he was playing off of Ron,” McKnight said. “Me and Ron checked (their coverage scheme), I audibled for a quick screen and he was able to score from that.”

Hall scored his second touchdown on a 7-yard run early in the second quarter.

For the game Hall rushed for 225 of the Comets 354 rushing yards, a season high for him.

“I have to give it up to my offensive line,” the sophomore said. “They held their blocks and made holes for us (running backs) to take.”

While Hall was able to help the Comets establish the squad’s running game, Butler did the same for the passing game as he caught nine passes for 105 yards.

“I told myself to come into this game and ball out,” the sophomore receiver said. “I tried to avoid getting tackled and make a play out of everything.”

So far this season Butler leads the Comets with 31 receptions for 445 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, CCC was able to make its presence known as it held Yuba’s offense to only a field goal in three quarters, keeping the 49ers offense to 221 yards, while also nabbing an interception.

“After (Saturday’s game) our defense is now ranked No. 1 in the state (in total yards against),” Carter said.

The Comet defense currently is tied for fourth in the state with 14 interceptions. CCC hopes to continue to utilize its newly found offensive attack this Saturday as the squad will host Shasta College (2-4 overall, 0-1 in the BVC) for its Homecoming game at 3 p.m.