Riverside City, San Mateo, Fullerton and American River victories set up SoCal and NorCal Regional Football Championships
SCFA Playoffs (seeds in parentheses)
(1) Riverside City 47, (4) Ventura 32
(2) Fullerton 45, (3) Mt. San Antonio 41
NCFC Playoffs (seeds in parentheses)
(1) College of San Mateo 30, (4) Modesto 0
(3) American River 43, (2) Laney 21
Regional Championships (Dec. 3)
NCFC - (3) American River (8-3) at (1) College of San Mateo (10-1), Noon
SCFA - (2) Fullerton (10-1) at (1) Riverside City (11-0), Noon
Forced red-zone turnovers, strong offense lead Tigers past Pirates
RIVERSIDE - The top-seeded Riverside City College football team and the fourth-seeded Ventura College Pirates faced off in the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) Regional Playoffs for the third time in the past five years on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers got out to an early lead, but the Pirates continued to stay within striking distance. Two Ventura turnovers in the red zone gave Riverside an advantage late in the game leading to a 47-32 win.
The win punches the Tiger's ticket to their sixth-consecutive SCFA Championship game. They will host the winner of second-seeded Fullerton and third-seeded Mt. San Antonio on Saturday, December 3 at San Bernardino Valley College. Game time is to be determined.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Retzlaff was named the Most Valuable Player of the game after going 27-for-37 with 402 yards and six touchdown passes. Freshman tailback Bryce Strong was named the Offensive Player of the Game after carrying the ball 20 times for a career-high 150 yards. He also caught three catches for a team-high 90 yards.
"I feel good," said J. Retzlaff. "My boys up front, my o-lineman, they protected me really well tonight. For the most part, we did what we wanted to do, but we have a lot to work on."
The Player of the Year candidate threw six touchdown passes for the third time this season, pushing his season total to 42. He now has 4,172 passing yards on the season. Both marks lead the state.
"We just played our game. The guys up front, led by sophomore center Ed Riley, dominated the line of scrimmage. That really helped us down the stretch."
While the offense shined, the defense came up clutch on multiple occasions as they forced three red zone turnovers throughout the game. The first came early in the second quarter after the Pirates blocked a Riverside punt that landed them on the Tigers' 26-yard line. With Ventura threatening to take the lead, sophomore defensive back Demarco Moorer rose up for his ninth interception of the season on a lofted ball in the back of the end zone.
The other two takeaways came in the fourth quarter that deflated the Pirates' sails as they were threatening to score on both possessions. Their 10-play, 85-yard drive was squandered by freshman defensive back Kenton Allen as he forced a fumble on the eight-yard line which was recovered by none other than ball magnet Demarco Moorer for his second takeaway of the game. Freshman Bryce Tate put the nail in the coffin on Ventura's final drive of the game as he corralled a batted ball that fell into his hands as he crashed down in the end zone, sealing the victory.
Quality defense gifted the offense multiple opportunities and they took advantage. J. Retzlaff and sophomore wide receiver Roshawn Lacy had their best games as a duo with the two of them linking up for three touchdowns. They connected for the first two scores of the game with the first going for a 25-yard touchdown, backed by a three yard connection on the ensuing possession. They later hooked up for an eight-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put Riverside up by 15 points.
J. Retzlaff had three other touchdown passes with two finding the hands of sophomore wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff. They came on back-to-back possessions as J. Retzlaff found R. Retzlaff on a four-yard pitch for a touchdown, backed by a 15-yard slant that found him in the end zone to close out the first half. The score put the Tigers up 16 points.
J. Retzlaff's final touchdown pass came on the closing drive that found the hands of freshman slot receiver Norbert Espadron. He caught a 39-yard screen pass that he promptly took to the crib. Freshman running back Cam Leofa had the lone rushing touchdown for the Tigers as he pounded a three-yard run past the goal line at the end of the first quarter.
Moorer had a monster day on the defensive end highlighted by his ninth interception of the season on a fumble recovery in the end zone. He is currently one interception away from tying the single-season interceptions record. In addition, he had six total tackles.
Sophomore linebacker Arturo Orozco led the team with 12 tackles, which was the second most in the game. Sophomore linebacker Gage Summers and freshman defensive back Marseille Taylor each had five tackles.
The Tigers wreaked havoc in the backfield, especially in the second half. They recorded three sacks for a loss of 19 yards highlighted by one and a half sacks by freshman Mafileo Tupou. Sophomore Sivea Logoleo recorded one sack.
(Nicho DellaValle, Riverside City Athletics)
No. 1 CSM blanks Modesto; to host #3 ARC Sat noon for NorCal title
SAN MATEO - Following a convincing 30-0 shutout of visiting Modesto JC, top seed College of San Mateo will host the Northern California finals in the California Community College Athletic Association football playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon against NorCal League champion American River College. CSM won an earlier non-league game at ARC, 24-14, the last team to defeat the Beavers before their "perfect" 5-0 league run to gain the No. 3 NorCal seed. American River eliminated No. 2 Laney, the Bay 6 League co-champ (with CSM), 43-21, in the other regional semi, in Oakland, on Saturday.
The north winner will host the CCCAA state championship game on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 10 -- against the winner of the Southern Calif. title game between Riverside City College (11-0) and Fullerton (10-1).
Ezra Moleni rushed for 163 yards on 25 carries to surpass 1,000 yards for the season and rise to No. 5 on the all-time season list with 1,057 yards. That list is headed by Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman, who, in 2005, rushed for 1,253 yards – a target within reach if the Bulldogs get two more playoff games.
Moleni, the Bay 6 League offensive player of the year, also scored a state national-leading 14th rushing touchdown in the third quarter against Modesto that put the Bulldogs firmly in control at 20-0.
Returning all-state placekicker Gabe Plascencia had 12 points to become CSM's top career kickscorer with 176 points and 23 field goals. He had field goals of 34, 28, and 29 yards and kept his season PAT record perfect (50/50) with three conversion kicks. Previous records were 168 kicking points by Justin Watts in 2014 and 2017 and 20 field goals by Gil Hernandez in 2005-6.
CSM's all-Bay 6 quarterback Richie Watts completed 20 of 25 passes for 228 yards (to surpass 2,000 for the season) and two touchdowns. He has completed 154 of 227 passes (67.8 percent) for 2,046 yards and 19 touchdowns – with a 170.3 collegiate efficiency rating (No. 3 in the state). His completion percentage is No. 2 among the state's ranking signal callers.
Watts started with a 12-play opening drive that took 8 minutes and 28 seconds for the only points the Bulldogs needed – on a 6-yard toss to Jayden Dixon-Veal. San Mateo controlled time of possession, 42:08 to 16:28.
Watts also had a 20-yard scoring pass to Jeremiah Patterson for an early fourth quarter 27-0 advantage. Patterson leads CSM season receivers with 33 cathes for 324 yards and four TDs.
San Mateo had to punt only once on the day, although the Bulldogs have the north's most effective kicker in Caleb Ojeda, with a 40.4 season average.
(Fred Baer, CSM Athletics)
Fullerton... To the SoCal Regional title game!
FULLERTON - The No. 2 seed Hornet football squad will be playing in the Southern California Regional Championship after defeating No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College 45-41 in a shootout at Lebard Stadium Saturday night.
After falling to the Mounties in 2019 (Central Conference title game) and 2021 (Patriotic Bowl), tonight's victory is a nice piece of redemption for the Hornets. A friendly rivalry that began back in 1946 (Hornets won 28-13), Fullerton bumps its all-time series lead to 38-24-2. It was a high scoring affair that totaled 86 points; the 3rd highest score between the two teams. The highest scoring games were in 2016 (56-35) and 2018 (53-43).
FC struck first at 3:37 in the first quarter when quarterback Brandon Nunez threw a 50-yard pass to Aidan Koenig.
With 5 seconds left in the first quarter, Mt. SAC got on the board on a 78-yard bomb from QB Ike Udengwu III to Shemar Savage.
Hornet QB Josh Calvin connected with tight end Cameron Woods on a 54-yard strike on a beautifully executed flea-flicker at 12:19 in the second quarter.
Mountie kicker Diego Esqueda kicked in a 33-yard field goal on the next drive (8:26). A quick three-and-out by the FC offense gave Mt. SAC the ball back, and four plays later the Mounties hit paydirt on a 25-yard pass from Udengwu to Xavier Rawls. By halftime, the Mounties held a 17-14 edge.
The third quarter looked promising for Fullerton scoring a field goal (25-yards by Jonathan Fobear) and two quick touchdowns within minutes. Recovering the ball from the kickoff, the Hornets converted on an 11-yard pass from Nunez to Will Gipson at 9:14. Less than a minute later, Jeremiah McNeeley picked up a Mt. SAC fumble and took it back to the house for a 35-yard score. The two-point conversion run by Garnett Davis III was successful.
The Hornets were enjoying a healthy 32-17 lead, but the momentum swung hard in favor of the Mounties. Ike Udengwu III rushed for a 21-yard touchdown (4:44 3Q), Udengwu hit Shemar Savage in stride for a 52-yard TD (3:01 3Q), and Diego Esqueda knocked in a 35-yard field goal that put Mt. SAC on top 34-32 at the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The battle was on.
With three minutes left in the game, FC answered the call scoring on a 16-yard scamper by Josh Calvin. The two-point conversion pass by Calvin missed, but the Hornets still held a 38-34 lead.
The Mounties still had some gas in the tank scoring nearly two minutes later thanks to another touchdown pass from Udengwu to Savage from 22 yards out.
Down 41-38 with 1:52 left, Fullerton QB Brandon Nunez took charge rushing for 21 yards, hitting Jordan Smith on a 25-yards pass and punching the ball in from 2-yards out putting the Hornets back up at 45-41.
With the game on the line and 27 seconds left in regulation, Mt. SAC quickly moved down the field to the Fullerton 44-yardline. A huge sack by Erik Hehl stymied the drive. With one play left and a shot at the endzone, Labarron Kennedy knocked the ball loose causing a fumble and Hehl recovered it as the last second ticked off the clock.
(Fullerton College Athletics)
#9 Football defeats #5 Laney College and advances to the NCFC Championship
OAKLAND - The #9 American River College Football program defeated #5 Laney College on Saturday, November 26, by a final score of 43-21.
All phases of the team showed up for the Beavers througout this game. The Beavers defense showed up first, posting a first half shutout and holding Laney College to just 219 yards of total offense.
Offensively, the Beavers would score on a 36 yard pass from Kenneth Lueth to Grayson Barnes, a 1 yard run by Ian Simpson, a 62 yard pass from Kenneth Lueth to Ian Simpson, a 5 yard pass from Kenneth Lueth to Ian Simpson, a 5 yard run by Kacie Riley, and a special teams 93 yard kickoff return by Robert Freeman IV.
With the win, the Beavers advance to the NCFC Championship game against College of San Mateo on Saturday, December 3, at 12 PM at College of San Mateo.
(American River College Athletics)