Tenth-ranked Tigers Throttle No. 1 Long Beach City, 34-14

RIVERSIDE -- Capitalizing on three turnovers and turning them into three touchdowns, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers football team posted a resounding triumph over the latest No. 1-ranked team in the state in a convincing 34-14 National Central League (NCL) win over the visiting Long Beach City College (LBCC) Vikings Saturday evening (Oct. 31) at historic Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium.

Riverside (6-2 overall, 3-1 NCL), which was coming off a 20-17 loss at Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) last week (Oct. 24), was ranked No. 1 in last week's (Oct. 19) California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) poll after opening the season at No. 3 in the state. The loss at MSAC dropped RCC to No. 10 in the state.

The Tigers jumped out to a 17-0 lead late in the second quarter before the visiting Vikings scored on a short rushing touchdown with just over a minute left in the first half as RCC led, 17-7, at halftime.

RCC freshman DB Tareke Lewis (Palatka, FL) latched onto an interception and returned it 33 yards to the Long Beach eight to set up the Tigers' final score of the first half. Freshman WR Dominique Maiden (Temecula Valley HS) scored from 19 yards out and freshman kicker Julian Castro (Legacy HS) booted home the second of four point after touchdown kicks as RCC led, 17-0, with 3:35 left.

Early in the third quarter sophomore DB Jonathan Lyles (Damien HS) forced and recovered a fumble at the LBCC 29. Moments later, sophomore WR K.J. Young (Citrus Hill HS) scored from 18 yards out with 13:11 left. Castro kicked home the PAT and RCC led, 24-7.

Undaunted, the Vikings came back, thanks to an 83-yard TD catch by freshman WR Ikenna Ohaeri (Narbonne HS) from freshamn QB Jack Lowary (Mater Dei HS). Sergio Garcia kicked home the PAT as LBCC trailed only 24-14.

Little did anyone realize that that would be the Vikings' last score.

Late in the third quarter, RCC sophomore DB Ronald Robinson (Santiago HS) returned an interception 42 yards to the LBCC 37. From there, RCC went for the jugular as sophomore WR Kyrion Parker hauled in a 37-yard TD strike from sophomore QB Ian Fieber (Mission Viejo HS) with 1:57 left. Castro's fourth and final PAT kick gave RCC a 31-14 lead.

Castro added a 42-yard field goal midway through the fourth stanza for the final 34-14 score.

Fieber completed 33 of 41 passes (zero inetrceptions) for 342 yards and four TDs. Young had game-high 12 receptions for 146 yards and two TDs and a long gain of 29. FReshman RB Seth Acda (Vista Murrieta HS) did the bulk of RCC's rushing with 19 carries for 26 ney rushing yards.

On defense, sophomore LB AJ Hotchkins (Tigard, OR HS) led RCC with 12 tackles, including three solo stops and one tackle for loss.

With the win, RCC now trails in the all-time series, 11-14-1.

Riverside will play its final regular season home game next Saturday, Nov. 7, when it hosts the Chaffey College Panthers at Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

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