No. 1 Football Grinds Out Win over No. 17 Canyons

It was a gritty battle on Saturday afternoon as the top-ranked Riverside City College football team looked to remain undefeated as they hosted the No. 17 College of the Canyons Cougars in the final non-conference game of the year. It was a slow start for the Tigers as they went into the locker room trailing at halftime, but a strong second half was enough to carry them past the Cougars, 31-28.

It was a revenge game for the Tigers after falling to the Cougars, 41-24, last year on the road. Riverside looked to get off to a strong start, but was unable to move the ball in an effective manner by punting the ball away on three-consecutive possessions. A special teams blunder in the form of a muffed punt in the middle of the first quarter gave the Cougars excellent field position leading to their first score of the game.

However, Riverside answered and scored their lone touchdown of the first half on their fourth drive after completing a seven play, 57-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown reception from sophomore quarterback Jake Retzlaff to sophomore wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff.

Riverside looked to have escaped the first half down by just three points after the Cougars banged a field goal off the left upright, but a personal foul penalty handed Canyons another opportunity for a field goal. They capitalized and sent the Tigers into the locker room down 13-7.

The Tigers came out of the locker room hot as they forced a three and out and scored on their first drive of the third quarter. A 16-yard connection from J. Retzlaff to freshman wide receiver Norbert Espadron set the Tigers up with a quick first and goal. J. Retzlaff completed the drive two plays later by zeroing in on sophomore wide receiver Juwan Tucker standing alone in the back corner of the end zone to take a 14-13 lead.

Riverside quickly regained possession 15 seconds later as sophomore defensive back Demarco Moorer rose up for is sixth interception of the season, setting up and eventual 14-yard touchdown run compliments of freshman running back Donovan Harvey to grab a 21-13 lead.

From then on, it was Riverside's game. Sophomore kicker Jacob Marroquin closed out the third quarter by knocking home a 23-yard field goal.

The fourth quarter was shakey as Canyons made a push by scoring early in the fourth. However, J. Retzlaff took matters into his own hands by completing a five play, 75 yard drive on a 17-yard touchdown run to give Riverside a 31-20 lead.

The Cougars continued to fight by connecting for a 69-yard touchdown pass with under three minutes remaining. They followed by converting a two-point conversion to make it a field goal away from a tie. However, J. Retzlaff led a drive that drained the clock down to four seconds, thus leading to a 31-28 victory.

Riverside compiled 416 total yards of offense despite their lethargic start. It was an even split with 245 yards through the air and 171 yards on the ground.

J. Retzlaff had a calm game through the air as he went 20-for-31 with 245 yards and two touchdown passes. He did some damage with his legs by carting the pigskin five times for 46 yards including the 17-yard touchdown scurry.

Harvey led the backfield in carries with nine totaling 52 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jacquez Jones had the most rushing yards at 56 on eight carries.

Freshman wide receiver Alfred Jones hauled in the biggest reception of the afternoon going for 35 yards, thus lead to 45 total yards through the air on two catches. R. Retzlaff and Tucker were responsible for the two touchdown receptions, but combined for just five catches and 18 yards. R. Retzlaff hauled in four of the catches.

The defense was led by sophomore linebacker Arturo Orozco who recorded a career-high 13 tackles. He is the only player this season to record double-digit tackles in a single game. Two and one half of his tackles went for a loss of four yards, which included a sack.

Freshman linebacker Kenton Allen had a career day by recording six tackles and a sack, while sophomore Talib Salahuddin and freshman Marseille Taylor each recorded six stops as well. Salahuddin also forced one fumble.