Tigers Score 52 Unanswered Points to Defeat L.A. Harbor, 55-7, Saturday

RIVERSIDE -- Spotting the visitors an early lead, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers football team roared back to score 52 unanswered points and win, 55-7, in a National Central League (NCL) game over the visiting Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) Seahawks Saturday evening (Oct. 17) at historic Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium.

Riverside (5-1 overall, 2-0 NCL) trailed, 7-3, late in the first quarter before freshman RB Seth Acda (Murrieta / Vista Murrieta HS) capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive on the first play of the second quarter with a one-yard TD plunge. Freshman kicker Julian Castro (Legacy HS) booted home the first of seven point after touchdown kicks as RCC took the lead for good, 10-7, with 14:57 left.

Later in the second stanza, sophomore WR Jajuan Thomas (San Pasqual HS) hauled in a 20-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Ian Fieber (Mission Viejo HS), before sophomore WR Sebastian LaRue (Santa Monica HS) returned a punt 62 yards for a TD. Acda added another one-yard TD run and Castro kicked his second field goal of the game, a 43-yarder as time expired. All told, RCC scored 31 points in the period and led, 34-7, at halftime.

The Tigers put up 21 points in the third quarter, highlighted by Thomas hauling in a 19-yard TD strike from Fieber.

RCC, which was coming off a loss to Fullerton last week, was ranked No. 1 in the latest (last week) California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) poll after opening the season at No. 3 in the state.

Acda turned in a game-high 115 net rushing yards (only three yards in losses) on 18 carries including the two TDs. In a starting role, Fieber completed 16 of 21 passes (zero interceptions) for 270 yards (long of 46 yards) and three TDs. He was sacked once (for a minus six yards).

Thomas led RCC with eight receptions for 180 yards, the two scores and the long gain of 46. 

RCC sophomore QB Kevin Olsen (Wayne Hills, NJ), who made an appearance in a relief role, completed five of nine aerials for 47 yards and one TD, a three-yard strike to freshman WR Jacoby Herring (Citrus Hill HS) to cap the scoring.

On defense, sophomore LB AJ Hotchkins (Tigard, OR HS) led RCC with 11 tackles, including three solo stops.

With the win, RCC now leads in the all-time series, 6-0.

Riverside will hit the road next Saturday, Oct. 24, when it visits the host Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) Mounties at MSAC's Hilmer Lodge Stadium at 6 p.m. Against MSAC, RCC trails in the all-time series, 28-17.

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