APTOS >> Receiver Rio Cruz had a big night to help Cabrillo College’s football team jump out to the lead, but the Seahawks gave up 23 unanswered points in the second half and suffered a 39-21 loss to Chabot on Saturday night.

“The kids played tough,” Seahawks coach Justin Hansen said. “But it’s three steps forward, two steps back; three steps forward, one step back. We definitely hurt ourselves in a lot of different areas.”Cruz, an Aptos High alum, had 11 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Hansen said Cruz has been battling a lower body injury and is finally starting to get back to his normal self.

“It was almost like a weight off my back,” Hansen said of Cruz’s big outing. “He has been a rock for this program the past one and a half to two years. For him to have the game he wanted, the game we all wanted him to have, was nice.”

Hansen said Cruz is capable of making 10 catches for 100 yards every week — “He’s got it in him” — but the Seahawks are going to continue to take what opposing defenses give them.

The Seahawks did all of their scoring in the second quarter to take a 21-16 lead into the half.

After Chabot jumped out to a 10-0, Cruz hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass from quarterback Jamari Vaughns, a freshman out of Seaside.

Chabot (2-1) responded within a minute. Daemon Duran scored on a 70-yard pass from quarterback Nekrawesh Harris.

Sophomore running back Peyton Hatten, who finished with 104 yards rushing on 29 carries, scored on a 3-yard run, and Vaughns scored on a 2-yard run with 18 seconds left to give the Seahawks a five-point lead at the break.

Hansen called Hatten “a workhorse.”

“He tweaked something and ended up returning to the game,” his coach said. “I’m proud of that kid for continuing to fight.”

Daemon Duran scored on a 1-yard run to give the Gladiators the lead for good in the third quarter, 22-21.

Turnovers proved costly again for the Seahawks. They lost three of their five fumbles and threw one interception.

“You can rep it and you can coach it,” Hansen said of trying to eliminate turnovers, “A lot of times its just kids doing extra, wanting to do more for the team, maybe holding on to the ball a little too loose. … That’s especially the case with Jamari, our quarterback. I know he wants nothing more than to lead us to success.”

Chabot threw an interception to the Seahawks’ Jeter Olivares.

Cabrillo totaled 320 yards on offense and held Chabot to 227 yards.

Vaughns finished 18-of-28 for 227 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked three times.

Olivares and Tosin Alade each finished with six tackles. Cabrillo’s Jose Chavez recorded a sack.

The Seahawks’ quest for their first win continues Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., when they host San Jose City (2-0).