The return to the gridiron didn't start well Saturday afternoon for new head coach Rob Hartenfels and the 2021 Reedley College football team.
The Tigers went three and out on the first offensive series and San Joaquin Delta scored a touchdown on their first possession.
But the Tigers responded with 20 unanswered points and went on to record a 27-14 victory over the Mustangs in Stockton. It was Reedley's eighth straight win and the 21st in the last 23 games in the last three seasons. The winning streak is tied for the third-best in the state.
Out of the Tigers' nine future opponents, only two (Modesto Junior College and Fresno City College) won their openers last week. Modesto defeated Laney on Friday while Fresno got past Chabot 41-7 in Hayward.
College of the Siskiyous comes to town for a 1 p.m. contest at the Reedley High School Stadium after a 31-3.loss to Diablo Valley.
In Stockton, Saturday, Reedley's first touchdown came on a 7-yard run by Roman Rodriguez (Clovis North) after a short Mustang punt set the Tigers up at the Delta 27.
Reedley took a 13-7 lead as Devin McGee (Las Vegas) intercepted a Justin DeMello pass and returned it 67 yards for a score.
The Tigers alternated quarterbacks with Joshua Magana (Dinuba) and starter Jordan Solomon (Las Vegas). Magana finished 150 yards and two touchdowns, completing 7 of 13 in his college debut. Solomon was 5 of 10 for 35 yards. Jaylin Jackson (Tampa, FL) caught a 14-yard scoring pass from Magana with 63 seconds left in the first half. Magana then closed out the scoring on a 73-yard pass to Shemar Kirk (Nashville ) with three minutes and 10 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Tigers outgained the Mustangs 353-284 and had only one turnover.
Gabriel Olmos (Sanger)had 2.5 tackles and two quarterback sacks for the Tiger defense while Jadon Pearson (Gilbert, AZ)had two sacks among his loo five solo tackles. Devonte Jordan (Augusta, GA) led Reedley with eight tackles, four solo, and four assists.
John L'Heureux (Fresno High) added an interception at the end of the fourth quarter, securing the win for Reedley.
By: Will Goldbeck