Chabot Wallops Delta; First 3-0 Start Since 2011

The Chabot College football team stayed hot to open the season, walloping San Joaquin Delta 45-0 Saturday night at Gladiator Stadium.

Off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2011, Chabot earned its first shutout in more than 15 years.
Dual-threat quarterback Chayce Akaka had a monster game with 287 yards passing and four touchdowns, completing 15 of 22. He also added a touchdown on the ground as Chabot finished with 517 yards.

Overall, Chabot’s tenacious defense and electric offense overwhelmed Delta.
"In my 11 years here, we have never recorded a shutout, so to do this is great and very rare," Chabot defensive coordinator Jerome Manos said. "Our unit was tremendous swarming to the ball and gang tackling."

Chabot, guided by head coach Eric Fanene, limited the Mustangs to just 119 total yards and were never really threatened to lose the shutout. Delta (0-3) got as far as the Chabot 35 on its first possession of the second half, but a sack halted the drive and the Gladiators were never threatened again.

The offense has been rolling since Akaka took over. The former three-sport star at Baldwin High in Maui (Hawaii) ranks No. 2 in the state in completion percentage (51 for 75, 68 percent), also averaging 244.7 yards a game with a 184.5 passing efficiency rating (No. 2 in the state).

"I've been blessed to be here, and coach Cal has been incredible with me," Akaka said, referencing Gladiators quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Danny Calcagno. "We got so many weapons I am able to spread everything around."

The Gladiators started fast, scoring on their first three possessions.
After forcing a punt on the Mustangs’ first possession, the Gladiators moved from their own 36 to the Delta 21 before Alejandro Cervantez made a 38-yard field goal attempt.

After a Delta three-and-out, Chabot added to its lead as Akaka darted through the heart of the Mustangs defense on an 18-yards touchdown run with 2:30 left in the opening quarter.

Akaka next connected with Tanner Wright for a 62-yard scoring strike, upping the lead to 17-0. On the play, the dual-threat quarterback rolled to his right and found a streaking Wright open down the sideline, past the secondary.

Traveon Auzenne paired up with Akaka to extend the Chabot lead to 24-0, capping off a 57-yard scoring drive on a 32-yard post pattern.

The Gladiators got the ball once more before the half, and Akaka hit Auzenne for 53 yards and another score to give Chabot a 31-0 halftime lead. Auzenne led the Gladiators with five receptions for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns, all in the first half. He is ranked in the top 10 in the state in receiving yards (297) and the top five in touchdown catches (four).

Wright added three catches for 84 yards and a score. Khalil Robertson tacked on three receptions for 69 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown in the third from Akaka when he dodged four would-be-tacklers before reaching the end zone.

Defensively, the Gladiators’ front seven suffocated the Mustangs from the outset -- 10 of the Delta 27 rushes resulted in either no gain or negative yards.

"It all starts from up front," Manos said. "When the D-line gets pressure that opens up the holes for the linebackers, the defensive backs are able to stay aggressive in coverage."

Curt Keahi and Eric Tafeamalii both had sacks and Najee Rushing ended a Delta threat in the second quarter with an interception.
-- Story by correspondent Tony Gonsalez