SPORTS

from Vol. 101, Issue 5 October 27, 2022

by RCC Viewpoints

LIFE

6October 27, 2022 SPORTS

Editor: Hayden Kulick viewpoints.sports@gmail.com

Sports Briefs

Football

The Riverside City College football team defeated Mt. San Antonio College 3533 in triple overtime. The Tigers converted on a two point conversion to take the victory and remain undefeated at 7-0. RCC next faces El Camino College on Oct. 29 at Ramona High School.

Cross Country

RCC’s cross country teams competed in the John Elders Titan Invitational at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 21. The men’s team placed fourth in competition while the women’s team finished in 15th place. Up next for both teams are the Orange Empire Conference Finals on Oct. 28 at Central Park in Huntington Beach.

Women’s water polo

After winning their first two matches in the Long Beach Tournament RCC lost their final two matches. Freshman Jessie Nelson finished the tournament with 11 goals. The Tigers will next compete in the Orange Empire Conference Championships on Nov. 3.

Men’s water polo

The Tigers lost three out of their four matches in the Golden West Tournament. RCC is 9-19 in the season with a 1-3 conference record. RCC will compete in the Orange Empire Conference Championships on Nov. 4.

Volleyball

RCC won in their last match 3-0 against Fullerton College bringing them to 5-13 on the season. Their next match will be on Oct. 28 against Santiago Canyon.

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PHOTOS BY HAYDEN KULICK | VIEWPOINTS Sophomore runner David Rush prepares for a long downhill after falling at the beginning of the race.

Fast finishes in Fullerton

Cross country improves on last year’s times

PETER GIBBS STAFF REPORTER

It was a day full of personal bests for both Riverside City College cross country teams.

Both the men’s and women’s teams competed on Oct. 21 at the John Elders Titan Invitational at Cal State Fullerton. The women ran a 5K and the men ran an 8K.

There was a new course compared to last year. “At first there was a little concern,” women’s cross country head coach Damien Smith said. “But the team became comfortable after their warmup.”

The women were once again led by sophomore Elani Huntley, who finished in 37th place out of 173 runners with a personal best time of 18 minutes and 52 seconds. Her result was higher than racers from Biola University, UC Irvine and the host school Cal State Fullerton.

“This is a race I was looking forward to after last year,” Huntley said. “I’m really proud of my performance today.”

As a team, the women placed 15th out of the 17 that qualified. However, the field consisted of multiple division one schools as well as track clubs that had racers who varied in age.

“Every one of our runners ran a personal best today,” Smith said. “We try to teach our team to close the gaps and be as close to a fellow teammate as possible. We have a young team that’s doing a good job learning.”

On the other side, the men’s race had an issue with the start when multiple racers fell including sophomore Tiger David Rush.

“When I fell, I thought ‘I’m going to miss this race.’ and out of anger and willpower I pulled through,” Rush said. “Coach told me I ended as the seventh man and so the rest of the season I’ll be all in.”

Rush rebounded in the race and finished 57th with a time of 26 minutes and 13 seconds.

Sophomore Gavyn Condit, the top finisher for the men, had mixed emotions with the reset of the race.

“The false start really got me mad,” Condit said. “I almost got 250 meters in and I was affected mentally.”

However, Condit ran a personal best as he finished 7th overall out of 201 runners with a time of 24 minutes and 22 seconds.

“I beat my personal record by a minute,” Condit said. “Seeing the timer at the finish line made me super happy.”

One of the competitors that Condit beat was Brint Laubach from The Master’s University. Laubach currently has the second fastest time in the nation at the 8K distance. Condit also beat out other top runners from The Master’s University as well as highly ranked Westmont College.

As for the rest of the men, the team finished fourth place out of 16 qualified teams. That result was higher than rival Orange Coast College.

The playoffs are next up on the schedule for the Tigers.

“We have a great leader,” Smith said. “This race will give us lots of confidence and experience going into next week.”

On Oct. 28 both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in the Orange Empire Conference finals in Huntington Beach.

TOP Sophomore Kyle Reden sprints to cross the finish line.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS Reggie Retzlaff continues to struggle for the completion while being tackled. This kind of effort got the Tigers to triple overtime.

1 vs. 3 goes triple OT

HAYDEN KULICK

MANAGING & SPORTS EDITOR

A game winning interception in triple overtime kept Riverside City College’s undefeated streak alive.

In a game that had the number one and number three teams in the state facing off, RCC was able to maintain its number one ranking with its win against Mt. San Antonio College on Oct. 22.

The Tigers played well in the first quarter, ending that period up by nine. However, that two score lead wouldn’t last long as two dropped balls turned into interceptions that set up Mt. SAC for two field goals.

“The two interceptions came on balls that were catchable,” head coach Tom Craft said. “Overall it’s about execution. Catching balls that are thrown to you and not getting penalties.”

After two big rushing touchdowns by RCC and a few more scores by the Mounties, the Tigers found themselves down by a field goal in the fourth quarter with three and a half minutes on the clock.

On that final drive of regulation, quarterback Jake Retzlaff connected with his brother, wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff, on a 29-yard catch that set up the gametying field goal.

“Every time I get press man, I know I’m going to get a look,” Reggie Retzlaff said. “All I was thinking about was ‘catch the ball’ At that point it was just me and the ball.”

After the catch, kicker Jacob Marroquin sent a 36-yard field goal through the uprights to send the Tigers to overtime.

The Junior College overtime rules were something that nobody on the Tigers roster had ever experienced before.

“We just treated it like a normal play,” Jake Retzlaff said. “We rep this kind of scenario in practice so that really helped us.”

On the first play of overtime, Retzlaff handed the ball off to running back Bryce Strong who broke a few tackles on his way to the endzone. This score put RCC up by seven in overtime.

“I just want to give a big shoutout to my [offensive] line,” Strong said. “We’re just going to practice hard and we’ll get this same outcome again.”

The glory of scoring the potentially game-winning touchdown wouldn’t last long for the team. On the very next play, Mt. SAC drew up a double pass trick play that resulted in a 25-yard passing touchdown that sent the game to a second overtime.

Both teams then got another shot at scoring from the 25 yard line, but neither team was able to capitalize.

The kickers for both teams missed chip shot field goals to seal the win, sending the game to a third overtime.

In the third overtime, both teams were given one chance to put the ball in the endzone from the three yard line. Strong easily waltzed his way across the goal line for the Tigers.

In what might be a preview of the southern California conference championships, linebacker Kenton Allen was subbed in for one play and made the game winning interception for RCC.

“To make the game-winning play for the number one team in the state, it’s something I can’t even fathom,” Allen said. “I sat back and waited. I knew he was going to throw it, so I just waited for it.”

Despite his play in the clutch, Allen is still focused on the games in the future.

“We got a new game next week,” Allen said. “We won, but it’s time for the next team.”

The Tigers will be looking to push their win streak to eight games as they play El Camino College at home on Oct. 29. LEFT Despite close coverage from Mt. Sac’s Mason White, Reggie Retzlaff leaps into the air and gets the completion for a first down.