Top-ranked Tigers Top El Camino, 29-22; Riverside Visits Long Beach Saturday

RIVERSIDE – Holding off a pesky opponent, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers outlasted the visiting El Camino College (ECC) Warriors, 29-22, in a National Central League (NCL) game Saturday evening (Oct. 29) at historic Arthur N. Wheelock Stadium.

Riverside City (8-0, 3-0 in NCL) -- which is ranked No. 1 in the state for the last six weeks -- saw its starting quarterback, sophomore Collyn Anderson (Durham, NC / Hillside [NC] HS '12) leave the game midway through the first quarter with an injury on his left (non-throwing) hand after being sacked near midfield with the Tigers leading, 7-0. At the time of his departure, Anderson had completed three of four passes for 23 yards with the one touchdown, a nine-yard TD strike to sophomore tight end Adrian Hughes (Riverside / John W. North HS '13).

In came sophomore quarterback Ian Fieber (Mission Viejo / Mission Viejo HS '14) who eventually completed nine of 16 aerials for 173 passing yards with two TDs and a long gain of 77 yards, but was sacked three times.

Ah, but the three "gimmes" that RCC turned on El Camino proved to be backbreakers.

With 8:48 remaining in the second quarter, Fieber connected with sophomore wide receiver Dominique Maiden (Temecula / Temecula Valley HS '15) for a 61-yard scoring pass. Freshman place kicker John Hilfer (Redlands / Redlands East Valley HS '16), who kicked a 49-yard field goal earlier in the second quarter, booted home the point after touchdown and RCC led, 17-0. 

Early in the third quarter, Fieber hooked up with sophomore wide receiver  Darius Hunter (Prosper, TX / Prosper [TX] HS '13) for a 77-yard TD with 14:03 left. Hilfer booted home another PAT kick and RCC led, 23-0.

El Camino (3-5 overall, 1-2 NCL) scored the next two touchdowns, a 36-yard TD run by Donovan Davis with 8:15 left and a 36-yard TD pass from David Sills to Erik Henneman with 3:42 remaining as the Warriors crept to within 23-15. Riverside was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty on the score. The penalty was assessed on the ensuing kickoff at midfield and kicker Max Kidd recovered the on-side at the RCC 39, but the drive stalled four plays later. 

RCC sophomore tailback Eltoro Allen (Elk Grove / Elk Grove HS '15) broke off a 50-yard TD dash up the middle with 14:12 left in the game to cap a five-play, 70-yard drive and Riverside led, 29-15. The Warriors scored with 3:37 left to get cosmetically close. 

Allen finished with 11 carries for 112 net yards rushing (minus one yard) and sophomore tailback Seth Acda (Murrieta / Vista Murrieta HS '15) had 17 totes for 68 net yards rushing (minus one yard). Hunter finished with seven receptions for 110 yards and the one score.

For the first time in a long time, Riverside was outgained in first downs (22 to 12) and total offense yards (403 to 369).

Riverside will visit the Long Beach City College (LBCC) Vikings on Saturday, Nov. 5, in a NCL game beginning at 6 p.m.

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