Eagles lose to top-ranked Riverside CC, 41-17
Matthew Caldera crosses the goal line with the Eagles' first touchdown Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell) By Paige Mendez, Correspondent ...
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent
The Mt. San Jacinto College football team lost 41-17 Saturday night to a Riverside City College team that is ranked first in the state.
The teams exchanged touchdowns within the first three minutes of the game, though that was the last time they were even on the night. Riverside scored again just before the five-minute mark in the first quarter and then again at the four-minute mark due to a fumbled MSJC kickoff return that the Tigers recovered.
They then forced a punt on the next Eagle possession and found the end zone one more time before the second quarter, making their cushion 28-7 in just the first 12 minutes of play.
The MSJC defense got an interception from defensive back Carsten Mamaril in the next Tiger drive that put them in an opportunity to push back the chains. But the offense barely got it past the 50 before they were forced to punt again.
The next Eagles points came from a field goal at the 16-yard line, bringing them within 18 points. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Riverside answered with their own field goal just before the half, going into the locker room with a 31-10 lead.
In the last 24 minutes, MSJC forced a punt on three of six Tiger possessions. But two of those six possessions ended with a Riverside score -- one field goal and one touchdown. The remaining possession was intercepted again by Mamaril at the 1-yard line, then brought all the way back to the 26.
“It felt really good to do that, especially after being tested on my side,” said Mamaril. “I probably should have taken it back, but I was pretty gassed.”
But quarterback Zach Zella and wide receiver Christian Kretz finished the job Mamaril started and got another touchdown on the board for the Eagles to the tune of a 22-yard reception just before the end of the third quarter.
Unfortunately for MSJC, that would be the last points they put on the board. The Eagles made it to the red zone three times in the second half of the game but only converted one of those drives into a touchdown.
Head coach Casey Mazzotta said that’s something his team is too familiar with.
“That’s kind of been the story with us this year,” Mazzotta said. “It’s plagued us all year.”
On the other side of the ball, the MSJC defense put up three stops against Riverside, but Mazzotta said that’s just not enough against a high-ranking opponent like the Tigers.
“You can’t make any mistakes, even little ones, against a team like this,” he said. “You just can’t give them any opportunities.”
Overall, Mazzotta said his young team is in the process of trying to fit all the pieces together as they search for their first win of the year heading into the last half of their season.
“I think it’s the tale of putting it all together,” he said. “Tonight we did really well on special teams and we’ve been moving to the ball offensively.”
He added that their schedule has been full of high-ranking teams, which has taken a toll on his developing program.
Mamaril echoed that thought.
“We play some of the top teams and some of them are legit and the real stuff,” said Mamaril. “But we’ll get it together and pick it up at the end.”
The Eagles’ next matchup is their homecoming game on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. against Southwestern.
Christian Kretz makes a leaping catch for an MSJC touchdown Saturday night. (Photo by Rick Rowell)
Carsten Mamaril is off and running for big yardage after making an interception. (Photo by Rick Rowell)
Quarterback Zach Zella prepares to throw a pass for the Eagles. (Photo by Rick Rowell)
