Riverside Scores 31 Consecutive Points and Hangs on for a 31-29 Win Over Grossmont Saturday

RIVERSIDE – Watching its opponent sandwich 29 points around its 31 consecutive points, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers football team went on to post a 31-29 nonconference victory over the visiting Grossmont College Griffins Saturday evening (Sept. 19) at historic Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium.

Riverside (3-0 overall), which retained the top spot in the latest California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) poll after opening the season at No. 3 in the state, watched at the No. 12-ranked Griffins jump out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter before RCC regrouped and tied the game at 14-14 with seven seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

RCC freshman defensive back Tareke Lewis (Palatka, FL) sparked the Tigers when he returned a kickoff 42 yards to get the Tigers going with a drive starting at their 47-yard line. From there, starting sophomore QB Kevin Olsen (Wayne Hills, NJ) completed five of six passes, the last of which was a two-yard strike to freshman TE Evan Rodriguez (Heritage HS) to cap a nine-play, 53-yard drive to get Riverside on the scoreboard, trailing, 14-7.

Late in the first quarter, RCC freshman DB Isaiah Armstrong (Redlands East Valley HS) recovered a Grossmont fumble at the Griffins' 23-yard line. From there, six plays later, sophomore RB Dontel James (Fontana / Summit HS) ran in from two yards out with seven seconds left. Freshman PK Aidan McCarley (Riverside / M.L. King HS) kicked home the point after touchdown and RCC had tied the game at 14-14.

RCC added ten points in the second quarter on a McCarley 31-yard field goal and Jajuan Thomas had a four-yard TD reception from Olsen and the Tigers led, 24-14, at halftime.

RCC upped its lead to 31-14 to cap a five-play, 99-yard drive before Grossmont (2-1 overall) scored twice early in the fourth quarter (at 14:08 and 13:16) to make a game out of it, the last of which was a 41-yard interception return by sophomore LB Nick Galatis (Clairemont HS) and make for some nervous time for the remainder of the game.

For Riverside, Olsen completed 21 of 38 passes (with one interception) for 212 yards and three TDs. Sophomore WR Durron Burton (Los Osos HS) led the Tigers' receiving corps with six catches for 66 yards 

Riverside nearly had two runningbacks crack the century mark in net rushing yardage. Sophomore RB Christopher Anderson (Hemet / West Valley HS) had 22 carries for 119 net rushing yards (only two yards for losses), and James had 19 totes for 99 net rushing yards (minus one yard lost).

For Grossmont, sophomore QB Tommy Pistone (Yuma, AZ Catholic HS) completed only 13 of 35 passes (with two interceptions) for 128 yards and one TD. Sophomore WR Sergio Bailey (Olympian HS) led with four receptions for 79 yards (with a long gain of 59 yards) and the one TD. Sophomore RB Thomas McDonald (Palm Beach Central-FL HS) had 16 carries for 77 net rushing yards.

With the win by RCC, the all-time series is tied at 8-8. (Grossmont forfeited a 30-30 tie in 1987.) RCC had lost its last three meetings against Grossmont, including last season's game, which Riverside lost after being ranked No. 1 in the state earlier that week.

Riverside will have a bye next Saturday, Sept. 26, as the National Central Conference begins its schedule. Grossmont will host the Golden West College Rustlers to open National Southern Conference play next Saturday at 3 p.m.

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