QUINCY – The College of the Siskiyous Screamin’ Eagles came back from a nine-point halftime deficit, 22-13, to defeat the Feather River Golden Eagles, 25-22, last Saturday.

The game winning touchdown was set up by a Jamal Pannell interception and 67-yard return to the Feather River 8-yard-line. Three plays later, Eagle quarterback Josh Hudson connected with Hakeim Pearson for a 4-yard TD. Aaron Sinnott added the PAT, to give the Eagles the lead 25-22 with 1:22 to play in the game.

Devin Howard sealed the deal for the Eagles when he sacked Feather River quarterback Rickey Mitchell, causing a fumble that was recovered by COS to end the game.

The Eagles truck first in the contest on a 5-yard TD toss from Hudson to Alex Coleman. Before a single second had run off the clock, Feather River struck back, when Sinnott’s kick was blocked and returned for a defensive PAT, making the score Eagles 6 – Feather River 2, with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

About two minutes into the second quarter, after holding Feather River on a fourth-and-goal at the 6-yard-line, the Eagles faced their own fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard-line. Hudson threw his second TD pass of the game to Jonathan Shines. Sinnott added the PAT, and the Eagles led 13-2. The scoring drive went 94 yards in 15 plays.

Just two minutes later, Feather River scored its first TD of the game on a 29-yard pass play. With the PAT, it was 13-9.

Feather River took the lead on its next possession via a 47-yard TD pass and PAT, 16-13. The Golden Eagles upped their lead to 22-13, on a 26-yard TD pass, with 20 seconds left before intermission. The PAT failed.

About halfway through the third quarter, the Eagles began to chip away at the Feather River lead. Aaron Sinnott hit a field goal from 11-yards, making it 22-16. COS pinned the Golden Eagles deep in their own end on the kick off, at the 5-yard-line. That set up the opportunity for the “devinators,” Devin Dyer and Devin Howard, to sack the Feather River quarterback for a safety, cutting the gap to four points, 22-18, with 7:31 left to play in the third quarter.

Feather River mounted a scoring threat early in the fourth quarter, moving to the COS 29. The threat was repelled by Eagle Myron Johnson who intercepted a pass at the 20-yard-line and returned it 22 yards to the COS 42. Feather River attempted a field goal with 9:33 to play in the game that was blocked by COS and recovered by Johnson.

With just over three minutes left in the game, Eagle Jamal Pannell picked off a Feather River pass at the COS 25, and returned it 67 yards to the Feather River 8-yard-line. Patrick Lunney rushed for three yards on first down, moving the ball to the five. Lunney advanced the ball to the 4-yard-line on second down. On third down, Hudson passed for his third TD of the game, when he hooked up with Hakeim Pearson for the game winner. Sinnott added the Pat, to give COS a 25-22 lead, with 82 ticks on the clock.

Feather River mounted a desperation drive and moved as close as the Eagle 19-yard-line. After a false start penalty moved Feather River back to the 24-yard-line, Eagle Devin Howard finished off the win for COS with a sack for an 11-yard loss, ending the game.

Patrick Lunney rushed for 169 yards on 26 carries for COS. Josh Hudson was 14/28 for 135 yards and three TDs. Alex Coleman had four catches for 63 yards and a TD.

Donovan Cunningham led the Eagles in tackles with nine, including a sack. Devin Howard notched 3.5 sacks among his five tackles. Devin Dyer and Jamal Pannell each had a sack and a half. Molea Patu had a sack. Pannell and Myron Johnson had an interception a piece. Donovan Ramsdal average 43 yards a punt, dropping two inside the 20-yard-line.

The Eagles improved to 5-2 overall and are 1-0 in the Mid-Empire Conference. COS has a bye this week, and will host Sacramento City College (3-4, 1-0) on Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 pm. Sac City defeated Mendocino 71-39 last Saturday.