Upsets by Ventura and Riverside rule SoCal Regionals while top seeds hold serve in NorCal bracket
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3C2A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS NCFC Semifinals (Nov. 25) Regional Finals (Dec. 2) |
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOWL GAMES
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL CONFERENCE BOWL GAMES Northern California Bowl (Dec. 2, Noon) Golden State Bowl (Dec. 1, 5 p.m.) Grizzly Bowl (Dec. 2, 1 p.m., at Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Ventura College Pirates run past Fullerton into SCFA Final
FULLERTON - After a slow start, the Ventura College football team outscored previously undefeated Fullerton 27-14 over the final three quarters Saturday afternoon as the No. 3-seeded Pirates defeated No. 2 Fullerton 27-24 to advance to the Southern California Football Association championship game. Lamonte James had 255 yards from scrimmage, including 195 yards rushing with a pair of touchdowns, and Zane Carter ran an interception back for a touchdown in addition to a strong performance as VC's punter to lead the way.
Ventura (8-3) will now host the SCFA final on Saturday Dec. 2 against No. 4 Riverside (10-1) an upset winner over No. 1 and previously undefeated Mt. San Antonio (10-1).
The Hornets (10-1) looked the part of the undefeated hosts early as they marched down the field after a VC punt, scoring a touchdown for a 7-0 lead. FC added a field goal at the end of the quarter for a 10-0 margin after 15 minutes of play.
Ventura responded with a 13-play, 88-yard drive on the next possession to get back into the game. Quarterback Chris Irvin completed five of six throws on the drive, including a pair to Tyler Woodworth for 30 total yards, and the Pirates' unprecedented pair of 1,000-yard rushers, James and Jaylen Thompson took care of the rest. James finished the final seven yards of the drive, including the 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1. The PAt was blocked, however, and VC trailed 10-6 with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter.
Fullerton was driving again on the next possession when the Pirate defense took charge of the game. With the Hornets at the VC 24, Ben Hall intercepted a FC pass to end the scoring threat.
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College of San Mateo tops Modesto in playoff opener, 41-6
SAN MATEO - The stage is set for College of San Mateo to defend it Northern California football title against American River College on Saturday, Dec. 2, at noontime.
The Bulldogs dispatched 98-year rival Modesto JC, 41-19, in their first-round 3C2A state playoff contest on Nov. 25 at College Heights Stadium behind a 5-touchdown performance by quarterback Anthony Grigsby. That was merely the first step for defending state (and mythical national) JC/CC champion San Mateo.
American River ousted City College of San Francisco, 41-6, in the other NorCal semifinal and will seek to avenge its only season loss -- to CSM, 24-23, in September.
The No. 3 state-ranked Bulldogs are the top-ranked team remaining in the final regular season JC Athletic Bureau poll of California's 67 community college teams and with equal the best won-loss record (10-1) – same as No. 4 American River.
The last two unbeaten in the National (state championship) Division lost in first-round SoCal playoff openers Saturday: No. 1 Fullerton lost to No. 11 Ventura, 27-24, and No. 2 Mt. San Antonio fell to a late rally by No. 6 Riverside, 51-48. The winner of this Saturday's Riverside (10-1) at Ventura (8-3) showdown will host the state championship game on Dec. 9.
Grigsby, a redshirt freshman, threw for four TDs and ran for a fifth against Modesto, completing 26 of 36 passes for 337 yards to raise his college efficiency rating to 180.1 (No. 3 overall in the state).
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Riverside Upsets South No. 1 Seed Mt. SAC, 51-48, in SCFA Semifinals
WALNUT - An undefeated season came to an end for South No. 1 Seed Mt. SAC, as visiting No. 4 Riverside City College scored a late touchdown for a 51-48 win in the SCFA Semifinals on Saturday night, November 25.
After the Mounties took a 48-45 lead on a 35-yard field goal with 3:53 left in the game by sophomore kicker Mathias Uribe, RCC drove the ball 73 yards in nine plays for the go-ahead touchdown with just 27 seconds remaining, leading 51-48.
The extra point failed for the Tigers' kicker, giving the Mounties a last chance for a tying field goal, but the 57-yard attempt by Uribe fell short, ending the season for the 10-1 Mounties.
RCC advances to the SCFA So Cal Championship against Ventura, an upset winner over previously undefeated Fullerton, with a score of 27-24.
Mt. SAC, which built up a 38-24 halftime lead, was outscored 27-10 in the second half by the Tigers.
The Mounties were led by sophomore running back Nicholas Floyd, who gained a game-high 213 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 46, 50, and 35 yards. Sophomore back Samuel Green added 99 yards on six carries, including a 46-yard score.
Sophomores De'shon Thompson (17-yard TD reception) and Jordan Williams led in receiving with 54 and 50 yards, respectively, for the Mounties. Sophomore quarterback Alex Flores completed 12 of 20 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.
The Mounties quickly took a 7-0 lead in just two plays, as freshman running back Devon Miles returned the opening kickoff (following a penalty by RCC on the initial kickoff) 77 yards to the RCC 17. On the next play, Flores connected with Thompson for a 17-yard score.
(Read the rest of the recap here)
American River advances to NCFC Finals after impressive victory over No. 5 City College of San Francisco
SACRAMENTO - The American River College Football program advanced to the NCFC Finals after an impressive 41-6 victory over #5 City College of San Francisco in the opening round of the 3C2A playoffs.
The Beavers who received the #2 seed in the northern section, earning the right to host the opening round, utilized all three phases of the game to pull off the win. Defensively, the Beavers held an explosive San Francisco offense to just 218 yards of total offense, including -27 rushing yards and two turnovers. Linebacker Josh Tremain led the Beavers with 20 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Defensive lineman Diallo Washington added 9 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, while defensive back Michael Chavez added 6 total tackles.
The special teams unit put the Beavers on the scoreboard first after San Francisco's long snapper sent the football over the head of their punter. The Beavers were able to recover the ball in the endzone, making the -score 7-0. On the next Beaver possession, running back Kacie Riley bounced the ball to the edge and ran for a 40 yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0.
In the second quarter, quarterback Kenneth Lueth connected with running back Avant Jacobs for a 6 yard touchdown pass to bump the lead up to 21-0. On the final possession of the first half, the Beavers closed out a 10 play 75 yard drive with a 25 yard field goal.