Football Preview: Student-Athlete Development Drives Football’s Inevitable Success

There is truly is no place like home when you buckle up your chinstrap for the Tigers. However, the Tigers typical residence of Wheelock Stadium will not be home to the Tigers this season.

Ramona High School will house the powerhouse Riverside City College football team after the District approved plans to begin a $7.7 million renovation to the Tiger's turf field. The project is set to begin in the coming months with an estimated completion window in the fall of 2023.

While the renovation of the turf is a step in the right direction, Head Coach Tom Craft hopes it is the start of better things to come when talking infrastructure.

"There is no doubt we are excited about fixing our field and playing at home again," said Craft. "We have been pushed around on campus with no meeting rooms and huge infrastructure challenges, but what we are doing and what we are able to achieve and outperform people with less in our department than our competition is something we are very proud of."

While the confines of Wheelock Stadium on the campus of Riverside City College will be empty on Saturday nights this year, the Tigers plans of replenish their trophy case still remain intact.

"This team has a chance to do something that has never been done before. It is hard to top the 2019 team's 13-0 record. They could be seen as one of the best teams to ever play football at RCC. This team could top it and be a unique team having to play on the road every game."

The hunt for a third-consecutive CCCAA State Championships berth and second state title in three years starts this Saturday under the lights at Ramona High School against the Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles. Kick off was originally scheduled for 12 p.m., but due to the extreme heat game time has shifted to 6 p.m.

"We are looking forward to the first game. It does not matter who it is. We have a lot of respect for MSJC. They will be a good test for us and first game."

Craft, who was named the JC Athletic Bureau & California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) Region III Coach of the Year and SCFA Central Coach of the Year, enters into his 12^th year at the helm. He currently sits with an overall record of 112-18.

Riverside boasts a difficult schedule that features seven 2022 JC athletic Bureau Preseason Top-25 teams that feature No. 5 Canyons, No. 6 Golden West, No. 9 Mt. San Antonio, No. 12 El Camino, No. 16 Cerritos, No. 20 Long Beach and No. 22 Saddleback.

"We get into strong National division play early. It will be a tough start, but good for us. Our league went 6-1 last year in postseason, which was the best mark of any conference in the state. It is safe to say we have the most difficult and toughest conference."

Riverside will feature a gang of top-notch student-athletes that have already proven themselves at the collegiate level.

Sophomore quarterback Jake Retzlaff will lead the charge under center after being one of the most dynamic weapons last season for the Golden West College Rustlers.

J. Retzlaff, the reigning Region III Offensive Player of the Year, led the Rustlers to the Southern Regional Championship game before being bested by the Tigers on a goal line stand in the fourth quarter. He finished the season with 3,302 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and 275.2 passing yards-per-game. He threw for over 150 yards in each game highlighted by a 392 yards outburst in a win over Fullerton.  

 "J. Retlzaff is a great get for us," said Craft confidently. "His platform in the pocket is the primary focus I have with him and for him to development his footwork and accuracy in different pass concepts. We are enamored with his resourceful ability to make different throws at different angels. He has worked extremely hard to be sound in the pocket. Having a returner like him despite it being his first year at RCC gives us a great advantage."

He will work with a receiving core led by his younger brother sophomore Reggie Retzlaff.

R. Retzlaff, who was a member of the 2019 National and State Championship team, suffered a season ending injury last season, but is ready for the challenge this season. In 2019, he hauled in 40 catches for 543 yards and six touchdowns. He had at least one reception in each game highlighted by a pair of six catch games. He hit the century mark in receiving in a dominant win over Saddleback and finished the season with all six of his touchdowns coming in four of the final five games. He racked his sixth touchdown of the season in the state championship game putting the Tigers up by 10 points at the time.

Sophomore Juwan Tucker joins R. Retzlaff after enjoying a breakout season in 2021. He finished with 35 grabs for 425 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sophomore Devvin Gitchuway returns after recording 18 receptions and one touchdown last year.

"Reggie had a great summer and great preseason camp. We expect big things from him and Tucker. Add in [Roshawn] Lacy and those three will be dangerous."

The lone running back returning is Jaquez Jones who had just 14 carries and 62 yards leading to a touchdown. The Tigers will have nine running backs to choose from this year.

"For now, it is running back by committee," explained Craft. "We expected somebody to come to the forefront and take over the role."

Defensively, Riverside will bring back a core of returners led by sophomore linebacker Gage Summers. Summers ranked second on the team last year with 49 tackles and one sack for a loss of 10 yards. He recorded a season-high 12 tackles in the Southern California Championship game. He had one forced fumble on the season as well.

Sophomore Demarco Moorer will lead the secondary after rising up for a team-high three interceptions last season bring one back to the crib in a win over Saddleback. He finished with 44 tackles while notching three or more stops in nine of 11 games. He had eight tackles on two separate occasions.

"Our slight concern right now on defense is depth," said Craft. "We have a lot of transfer and guys we don't know too much about yet. We have Alex Navarro who was one of our top guys in 2019 and he's back; a University of Arizona bounce back. As we start playing, we think we have a lot of potential."

Other notable guys are quarterbacks Budd Bernie and Alex Grado who will be battling for the backup spot.

"Bud Bernie was a starter for us and then a backup. He has improved significantly. We also have Grado, an Ole Miss transfer. Those two are fighting for the second spot."

For Craft and the Tigers, the expectation of winning will always be there. Nevertheless, the focus is player development and shaping student-athletes to be the best they can be when they leave RCC's nest.

"We do not ever look ahead like that," said Craft when asked about the thought of winning another championship.

"We have never done that had and that's why we have done so well. The focus has been, even in recruiting, development on the student-athlete to be the best they can be at their position to enhance skills on and off the field. We put a premium on the result of developing our men. Championships are something we are proud of, but not what we live by."