WOLVES FINISH REGULAR SEASON ON HIGH NOTE
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(11/2/07 Chico, CA) The Shasta varsity football team increased its chances of getting into the Northern Section playoffs by taking a 21-14 win over Chico in the regular season finale for both teams Friday at University Stadium.
 
Matt Carter's 47-yard gain on the Panthers' first drive of the game brought them to the Wolves' 27-yard line. Carter added 18 more yards on second and 8 for a first and goal at the 5-yard line. The drive ended with 8:08 remaining in the first quarter when Carter found his way into the end zone. Jason Peck kicked the extra point as Chico went up 7-0.
 
Evan Taylor's seven-yard gain earned Shasta a first down on their 46-yard line. Mason Hatton gained eight yards on third and 2 to reach the Panthers' 38-yard line. On the Wolves' next third down play, they were unable to convert as an incomplete pass intended for Hatton was thrown by Brooks Beaudette.
 
An interception by Bryan Zuurbier allowed Shasta to take over at the Chico 15-yard line. A pitch to Taylor was good for a 12-yard gain and first and goal at the 1-yard line. Chase Ungaro capped off the drive with a short touchdown run on third down. Neil Byzick added the extra point to tie the contest at 7-7.
 
Taylor's 14-yard gain early in the second quarter gave the Wolves a first down at the Panthers' 39-yard line. A 25-yard completion to Anthony Halbersma brought Shasta to the 10-yard line. They failed to score on this drive as a 21-yard field goal attempt by Byzick was no good.
 
After Chico took over possession, a 29-yard run by Carter brought them to their 49-yard line. The Panthers would get no further than the Wolves' 34-yard line as Chase Detwiler recovered a fumble and returned it for a Shasta touchdown.  Byzick made the extra point to give the Wolves a 14-7 lead. The Panthers started their next drive on their 12-yard line after Andrew Medearis' short kickoff return. The drive ended when Kayhan Karatekeli was stopped for no gain on third and 3 at the Chico 34-yard line.
 
The Panthers regained the ball in Shasta territory after a fumble recovery. Carter gained 14 yards on third down to set up a first and goal at the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Karatekeli made his way across the goal line. Peck's extra point attempt was good, so the score was knotted up at 14-14.
 
Taylor's 16-yard gain with over seven minutes left in the third quarter placed the Wolves at the Chico 40-yard line. On the next play, Beaudette connected with Nick Preston on a long touchdown pass. Byzick kicked the extra point as Shasta went ahead 21-14. Nate Anderson's 13-yard gain gave the Panthers a first down on their next drive at their 45-yard line. The drive hinged on a fourth and 1 play, but a fumble recovery by the Wolves gave them possession on their 43-yard line.
 
Hatton's short gain on third and 1 with 2 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter allowed Shasta to earn a first down at the Chico 46-yard line. An 18-yard completion to Taylor on second and 12 brought the Wolves to the 30-yard line. The third period ended with a penalty and a sack pushing the Wolves back to midfield. A short pass to Taylor to start the fourth quarter resulted in a four-yard loss. Detwiler then caught a 15-yard pass on third down, leading to a punt.
 
Taylor's nine-yard run on Shasta's next possession earned them a first down at their 48-yard line. Halbersma was stopped for a four-yard loss by Weston Skillicorn on third and 3. The Panthers took over possession when Brett Scott fielded the punt on their 23-yard line.
 
Chico started the drive when Scott found Medearis open for a 45-yard reception at the Wolves' 32-yard line. The Panthers faced third and 8, but they got a key play as Medearis caught Anderson's pass to earn a first down. A penalty against Shasta brought the Panthers a first and goal situation at the 7-yard line but the drive came to an end when Detwiler intercepted Anderson's pass in the end zone.
 
The win improved Shasta's overall record to 6-4 and its Eastern Athletic League record to 4-3. Chico dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in league play. Both schools will find out this weekend if they will make the playoffs, which start Friday, Nov. 9. Foothill and Pleasant Valley are expected to receive the top two seeds in Division I, giving them byes in the first round. The Wolves and the Panthers are in a battle with Paradise, Lassen, and Enterprise for the four remaining spots.
 
In Friday's other games with playoff implications, Enterprise went to Paradise and took a 15-14 win on a late two-point conversion, while Lassen came away with a 63-22 victory over Anderson.