Marroquin Boots Home Game Winner in Comeback Victory over Cerritos

Freshman backup kicker Jacob Marroquin had not attempted a single field goal all season. Tonight, he stared directly down the barrel of a 36-yard field goal that could win the game and name Riverside the SCFA Central Conference Champions, or end the Tigers eight-year Southern Regional playoff streak.

The pigskin flew through the uprights with the right distance and then some, leading to a 40-38 victory.

Marroquin earned his time to shine and took full advantage of it, but it wasn't all smooth sailing for the combined special teams leg unit.

After converting two point after attempts, Marroquin struggled to find the sweet spot in the kicking and punting game. He flubbed a point after attempt following a third quarter touchdown run by freshman quarterback Jordan Barton to bring the score an uneven number. Furthermore, the Tiger's punter shanked a punt that went just eight yards handing the Falcons great field goal position leading to their go-ahead touchdown with just over one-minute left.

On the Tigers' final drive, they had zero timeouts remaining on their own 23-yard line. After an incomplete pass from Barton to sophomore Jammal Houston, Barton connected with freshman Juwan Tucker for a nine yard gain that brought him out of bounds and stopped the clock.

Sophomore Lawrence Starks, last week's SCFA Offensive Player of the Week, scurried four a five-yard gain on the ensuing possession and gain the first down. But the clock kept ticking after the ball was set.

Barton kept the offensive train chugging with an 11-yard pass to freshman Marquise Ashley. However, two straight incomplete passes and a small four-yard pass to Starks faced the Tigers with a fourth down and a long six yards to go.

The ball was snapped and Barton was quickly pressured. He rolled out to his right and threw on the run to a wide open Houston for a 34-yard connection and a first down to the Falcon's 14-yard line.

With the Tigers running up the ball to down it and stop the clock, a wide receiver was out of position which forced a delay of game penalty. The flag pushed Riverside back five yards and incurred a 10-second run off.

It pushed the ball back and Marroquin entered the limelight. And boy did he shine.

Riverside avoided elimination from SCFA playoff contention with the victory, but it wasn't easy.

Riverside was down 10 points with just two minutes left in the first half and barreled by to gain a 10-point lead to only watch it dwindle away late in the fourth quarter. The kicking game and a Tom Craft's two-minute drill is credited with the win.

Riverside leaned on the running game in the red zone despite nearly two-thirds of the offense came through the air.

Starks was the workhorse in the backfield as he clocked his second-consecutive contest with over a bill rushing and two touchdowns. He finished with 143 all-purpose yards; 122 on the ground and 21 through the air. He reeled in two catches contributing to the total.

Sophomore tailback Thomas Kinslow crossed the goal line for the first time this season coming late in the third quarter to trim the Tigers' deficit to 10 points. He carried the ball nine times for 30 yards.

Barton had one of his strongest games of the season by going 15-for-24 with 282 yards and a touchdown. He found six different receivers throughout the night, but favored Tucker who caught six passes for 81 yards. Ashley lead all receivers with 90 yards on four grabs.

Defensively, Riverside allowed their second-largest output. It is the third time an opposing squad has put up 30 or more points on the Tigers this year.

Nevertheless, Riverside forced three turnovers that featured two picks and a forced fumble. Freshman Demarco Moorer reeled in his second interception of the season. He picked off an out pass early in the second quarter leading to a field goal. Furthermore, he recorded eight tackles which was second-best on the team.

Freshman Keithan Gooden followed with an interception in the end zone to close out the second quarter on an attempted fade route.

Freshman Noah Purcell paced the Tigers with another dominant performance as seen in 10 tackles and a half sack for a loss of four yards. He teamed up with freshman Travis Johnson on the sack.

Sophomore Kylen Ross and freshman Gage Summers recorded five tackles each to round out the top performers.

The Tigers will round out regular season play with a showdown against the Chaffey College Panthers at home on Saturday, November 13 at 4 p.m. Watch live on Riverside Athletics YouTube channel and watch live stats at www.rccathletics.com