Tigers Topple Bobcats on the Road

No. 2-ranked Riverside City College hit the road and grabbed a 63-46 victory over No. 13-ranked Saddleback College.

The Tigers improve to 7-1 overall and hold onto their top spot in the National Southern League standings with a 5-0 conference mark. The Bobcats drop to 5-3 on the year, 3-2 in conference.

RCC finished with 602 total offensive yards, including 448 yards passing with Brady Jones going 23-for-35 with six touchdown passes.

Dominic Cox and Beau Bruins each caught two touchdown passes, while Jackson Owens and Marquis Monroe were on the receiving ends of the other two. Monroe also scored off a kickoff return, running 98 yards back for the six points. Luis Marin was a perfect 9-for-9 in point-after-touchdown attempts.

Defensively, Peter Eyabi led the Tigers with nine tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Saipeti Maiava, Jr., Ja'wuan Nickson, and Tayven Anderson each had eight tackles, while Nickson also grabbed an interception.

It was back-and-forth action early with Saddleback striking first, but Riverside held a 28-19 lead at halftime and came out fired up in the second half.

RCC got the ball and scored off the first drive of the third quarter as Andre Branch ran in a 15-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 35-19 lead.

The Bobcats managed to pull within two points, 42-40, with four minutes left in the third, but Monroe took the wind out of their sails as he took off for 98 yards on the kickoff return for his second touchdown of the game.

Riverside put the game away with 10 minutes left in the fourth as Jones found Cox for a 66-yard touchdown, securing the 63-46 victory.

The Tigers are back home next week, hosting No. 6-ranked San Diego Mesa College at 1 p.m. at Wheelock Stadium.