COMMUNITY COLLEGE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON TAP SAT.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     Contact: Fred Baer           email: frdbaer@aol.com 

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION  /  CALIFORNIA CC FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION

At San Francisco, Riverside, Salinas:

  COMMUNITY COLLEGE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON TAP SAT.

Three regional championship football games are on tap for California Community Colleges Saturday (Nov. 29).

--In the California Community College Athletic Association's National Division, the state championship finalists will be determined at Riverside and San Francisco.

Pairings for region finals, Nov. 29:

Northern California Football Conference: American River (10-1) at City College of San Francisco (10-1), 1p.m.

Southern California Football Association Championship: Mt. San Antonio (9-2) at Riverside City College (10-1), 6 p.m. Winner hosts the CCCAA state championship game, Dec. 13

--In addition, the NCFC will crown its American Division Champion at a charity bowl game:

Living Breath Foundation Bowl at Rabobank Stadium, Salinas: Contra Costa (9-1) Pacific 7 League champion vs. Hartnell (9-1) Golden Coast League co-champion, 1 p.m.

Eight of the state's 39 National Division teams began play in the state title race last weekend and the top four teams in the California Community College Football Coaches Association final regular season state poll are still alive.

No. 1 Riverside defeated No. 13 Ventura, 51-37.

No. 2 San Francisco beat No. 14 Chabot, 47-20.

No. 3 American River eliminated defending state champion No. 8 Butte, 20-17.

No. 4 Mt. SAC knocked off 2013 state runner-up No. 5 Fullerton, 44-14.

American River avenged its only setback this season, which came from Butte, 31-28, earlier this month in NorCal league play. CCSF's only loss came from American River, 13-0, in a non-league game last month – the first shutout in San Francisco coach George Rush's 38-year career with the Rams. But CCSF wound-up as a state defensive leader, allowing just 15.2 point per game.

Riverside has put together an 8-game win streak since suffering its only setback, 38-28, at Grossmont on Sept. 20.

That included a 28-24 win over Mt. SAC during an undefeated Central Conference season.

There are two previous state champions still in the field. Mt. SAC won titles in 1997, 2009, and 2010. CCSF has won six state crowns, the last in 2011. 

The teams:

American River is led by NorCal League defensive player of the year Jordan Carrell, a 6-3, 275-pound lineman, who has 58 tackles, including eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss. All-league quarterback Tanner Trosin (6-1, 185, soph) completed 63.2 per cent of his passes to rank No. 5 in the state (194 of 307) for 2,101 yards and 19 TDs.   His favorite targets are Tyler Young (63 receptions, 828 yards, five TDs) and all-league J'Juan Muldrow (53 for 638 yards, six TDs). Deon Ransom leads Beavers rushers with 750 yards on 108 attempts (6.9 avg.) and seven scores; also had 1017 all-purpose yards, including 220 (24.4 average) on kickoff returns.

CCSF has the Bay 6 League offensive player of the year in quarterback Anthony Rodriguez (6-3, 185, soph) and the top defensive player, Shalom Luani (6-1, 195, soph). Luani a defensive back, has 54 tackles and four pass interceptions. CCSF all-league defensive lineman Tavita Faalu (6-3, 250) leads the state's National Division with 14.5 sacks.

Rodriquez has completed 164 of 279 passes (58.8 per cent) for 2,381 yards and 18 TDs. Top receiver is all-league tight end Cole Hikutini (6-5, 240, soph) with 33 receptions for 624 yards (18.9 avg.) and four tallies.  The Rams have a pair of all-conference rushers in Jahray Hayes (6-0, 215, soph) with 956 yards on 190 carries (5.0 avg.) and a state-leading 21 TDs; also Eoijah Dale (5-9, 190, frosh) with 639 yards on 104 carries (6.1 avg.) and 11 scores. CCSF's 40 rushing TDs leads the state. 

Riverside sophomore quarterback Nicholas King (6-4, 220) has completed 143 of 242 passes (59.1 per cent) for 1,667 yards and 12 TDs with only two interceptions, playing in nine games. Isaac Whitney (leads RCC pass receivers with 45 catches for 770 yards and three scores. Sophomore Denzel Foster  (5-10, 200) paces the Tigers rushers, averaging 102.1 yards in nine games – totaling 919 yards on 157 carries (5.9 avg.) and five TDs. Riverside frosh linebacker Al Hotchkins (5-11, 235) has 90 tackles, including nine for loss, and returned a pass interception for a TD. Tigers defensive back Ray Ford (5-10, 180, soph) has six of his team's 23 pass interceptions. Riverside leads the state in all kicking categories. Freshman Jimmy Camacho has 21 field goals (long of 53 yards) and 107 points (making all 44 of his PAT attempts). Tigers soph punter Anthony Zamora averages 43.1 yards (more than 2 yards better than anyone else.)

Mt. SAC quarterback Justin Alo (6-0, 195, soph) has passed for 2,717 yards, completing 191 of 328 attempts (58.2 per cent) and 21 TDs. His total offense is just shy of 3,000 yards, adding 249 rushing. Sophomore Omaris Tolbert (5-10, 195) leads the Mounties on the ground with 1,022 yards on 158 carries (6.5 avg.) and 12 scores. Christophe Gilchrist (6-6, 200, soph) is the top MSAC pass catcher with 41 for 654 yards and five scores. Wide receiver Derrick Macon (6-4, 290, soph) has scored ten TDs (no. 6 in state) on his 31 receptions, averaging a state-leading 25.9 yards per catch. Mt. SAC also has one of the state's top placekickers in Alberto Villarreal, with 11 field goals and 73 total points. Freshman linebacker Sitivemi Tamaivena (6-2, 230) leads MSAC tacklers with 65, including eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss, plus a 49-yard interception return for a TD.

Contra Costa freshman quarterback Jonathan Banks (6-3, 210) was the Pacific 7 League offensive player of the year, throwing for 1,819 yards and 16 TDs and adding a team-leading 625 yards on the ground, plus eight more scores. His 61.1 completion percentage (132 or 216) ranked tenth in the state. Pacing the Comets running backs is all-league Harold Halcomb (5-8. 195, soph) with 619 yards (4.4 avg.) and nine TDs. All-league wide receiver Frank Stephens (5-10, 175, frosh) has 29 receptions for 532 yards and seven TDs. Sophomore All-Pacific 7 linebacker Terrance Alexander (6-3, 200) leads Contra Costa tacklers with 46. All-league lineman DeOnte Reynolds (6-5, 315, soph) has 38 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. All-league defensive back Lavon Washington (6-0, 195) intercepted a pair of passes and returned both for touchdowns.

Hartnell freshman running back Sherrod Hawkes (5-10, 200) leads the state's American Division rushers, averaging 143.1 yards and also scorers, with 17 TDs (102 points). He was the Golden Coast League offensive player of the year. Panthers all-league QB Michael Turner (6-4, 200, soph) has completed 177 of 319 passes (55.5 per cent) for 2,432 yards and 25 TDs with only six interceptions. His top receiver is all-league freshman Ronnie Turner (6-5, 185) with 42 catches for 887 yards and ten TDs.

All-league defensive lineman Chuntony Johnson (5-11, 280, soph) leads Hartnell tacklers with 57, including 12.5 sacks (18 tackles for loss). Freshman defensive back Robert Mosley also had 12.5 sacks, with 17 tackles for loss.  

--Contra Costa won the 2012 Living Breath Foundation Bowl over Monterey Peninsula, 39-25, while Hartnell beat the Comets for the title last year, 37-26.