HOME OF THE AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS

ARC vs CCSF

Controversial call ends Beavers season, title hopes

November 24, 2012

Last second go-ahead touchdown negated by a holding call. For the fourth time in the last five games, on the biggest stage and against the biggest opponent – it looked like American River College would pull out another stunning comeback victory. Down 34-17 at the half at City College of San Francisco in the Northern California Community College championship, the Beavers used solid defense, a fantastic performance by freshman quarterback Mike Hicks and a stunning onside kick recover to set up one final play with three seconds remaining in the game. And as the clock expired, Hicks threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Diondre Batson as the ARC sideline erupted in celebration – only to see a flag thrown for holding, negating the touchdown, the comeback and ending the season for the Beavers in a heartbreaking 41-36 loss. “I consider it a win,” freshman wide receiver Tyler Trosin said. “We had to comeback from 17 down and battled hard, but the guys came together. That should have been a win. He catches the ball there with no time on the clock. I don’t know what the ref was calling there—but that’s a win in my book.” That was the sentiment all around the stadium after the game that had 28 total penalties thrown against both teams – 18 coming against American River. “I think we got screwed personally,” sophomore safety Scott Patalano said. “With three seconds remaining, you don’t throw a call. They say it was holding, but with three seconds on the complete opposite side of the field on a jump ball fade. It was a three step drop fade, there is not enough time.” It can be said that a team should never allow themselves to be put into a position to have the referees dictate the outcome, but it was hard for ARC to swallow, the loss of the play that was so fresh in the minds of the players after the game. “That call was heartbreaking,” Hicks said. The freshman from Cordova High finished with 252 yards passing and one passing touchdown to Trosin (124 receiving yards)to set up the onside kick with just 1:45 left in the game. Hicks also rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown while seeming to scramble away from defensive pressure in the back field all game long. Hicks did toss three interceptions and lost one fumble. “You have to tip your hats off to American River, they played hard and didn’t quit and got a key onside kick,” CCSF head coach George Rush said. “It was a really hard fought junior college game and I thought both teams played really well.” The Rams will play in the state title game for the third successive season and are looking to repeat as champions. American River (8-3) finishes the season with a third conference title in as many years, and head coach Jerry Haflich says there is no disappointment to the season because “it’s not a setback since we had never been here before” in regards to ARC’s first season in the “A” tier of California community college football. “We can compete with the “A” level and (CCSF) was the best,” sophomore running back Devontae Booker said. “So we came in and fought our (tails) off.” Booker, a recent verbal commit to the University of Utah, finished with 169 rushing yards and one touchdown – but still couldn’t get over the way the Beavers lost. “In my book, we really won. It came back to the final play, but things happen and we have to roll with it,” Booker said.
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Sierra College

Beavers trounce Sierra, win Valley Conference

November 10, 2012

It was so close to being over for the American River College football team for the past month the team has overcame double digit second half deficits to be in the position they are in now – Valley Conference champions. With the best four quarter performance of the season, ARC defeated cross-town rival Sierra College 52-13, clinching the program’s first Valley title since 1967. The win sets up a rematch against City College of San Francisco for the Northern California Championship on Nov. 24. “It’s about time we got rid of the stereotype and showed everyone what AR is all about,” sophomore linebacker Samson Faifili said. The Beavers defense shut out the Wolverines in the first half and went into halftime with a 31-0 lead. Led by another stellar performance by freshman quarterback Mike Hicks (267 yards passing, 3 touchdowns) and the re-emergence of Devontae Booker (145 yards rushing, 2 TD), the offense struck fast. Hicks found Tyler Trosin for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give ARC a quick 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game. “Nobody believed we could do it, especially after losing two straight,” Trosin said. “But we came back, regrouped as a team, and now we are here. We wanted to start out fast and we got that first score and got going after that.” The defense, led by sophomores Samson Faifili (five tackles, one sack) and Zane Petty, who scored a touchdown on an interception in the third quarter, forced Sierra to punt eight times, sacked the quarterback four times and intercepted three passes. “We talked about starting fast,” Faifili said. “It was nice to come out and start fast. Two quarters of shutout football, that’s what we wanted.” With the conference championship, the Beavers now get what they wanted—a berth in the Northern California Championship game and a shot at the state title. And even sweeter for the Beavers is the chance at a rematch with San Francisco. The team that ended the Beavers 22-game win streak on Sept. 29. Petty believes that despite falling to the Rams 52-33 in September, the Beavers now have the upper hand. “I think we have the advantage with how we played in this one and how we have finished lately,” Petty said. “We are going to come in way ready and not start out slow.” The Rams, despite losing to Butte College Saturday, have the power ranking advantage in the three-way tie for first in the NorCal conference over Butte and DeAnza and will win the conference and advance to the title game against ARC. For ARC head coach Jerry Haflich, the rematch is nice, but being in the position to be a game away from the state title is the best feeling. “It’s something that is earned. I am so proud of the kids,” Haflich said. “It’s the culmination of all of activities of our past that leads to our success and failure today, and that is something that we talked about.” The Beavers will have two weeks to prepare for the Nov. 24 rematch in San Francisco. “It’s going to be fun, Haflich said. “We are going to try and enjoy these two weeks of preparation. But I want it to be an enjoyable thing. I want our guys to know they have done something exceptional.”
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs College of Sequoias

Win gives ARC upper hand for conference title

November 3, 2012

For the third straight week, American River College needed to overcome a second half double-digit deficit to keep the Beavers state title hopes alive. ARC beat College of Sequoias 31-27 on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Visalia to stay tied for first place and now have a season finale showdown with Sierra College for the conference title. Down 27-10 in the third quarter, ARC scored 24 unanswered points to beat COS. The win gives the Beavers (7-2 overall, 3-1 Valley) a tie for the conference lead with Fresno City College and Sierra College. San Joaquin Delta College lost to Sierra on Saturday in double overtime and Fresno beat Modesto. “Every week is a playoff game. It is a five week playoff,” ARC head coach Jerry Haflich said of the team’s first year in the Valley Conference. “You can’t take a week off.” If the Beavers beat Sierra in the season finale on Nov. 9 at Beaver Stadium, ARC will play for the North Division title game against the winner of the NorCal conference—which will most likely be City College of San Francisco. That would be a possible rematch of a Sept. 29 game that ended a 22-game win streak for ARC when CCSF beat ARC 52-33 at Beaver Stadium. ARC holds the tie-breaker over FCC with the win over the Rams on Oct. 20 in Fresno, and a win over Sierra would drop the Wolverines to two conference losses. “Now we played well enough to win the last three,” Haflich said. “Now it comes down to a showdown with a cross-town rival. It will be a game for the ages. ”On Saturday, down 27-7, early in the third quarter, freshman kicker Cameron Southward kicked a 29-yard field goal that began a 24-0 run for ARC. Mike Hicks (18-30 305 yards 2 TD, 2 INT) then found Diondre Batson for an 18-yard touchdown with ten minutes, 35 seconds to go in the game. Hicks then hit Tyler Trosin for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 5:50 left, and then with just 1:10 left in the game, Drake Tofi scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown to give the Beavers a 31-27 lead. After dropping two straight games to CCSF and Delta, the Beavers have won three straight, outscoring Fresno, Modesto and COS by a combined 80-28 in the second half. “When you spot someone 21 points, your nerves begin to grown and wear on you,” Haflich said. “I have to compliment out kids. They battled.” Sierra (5-4, 3-1) has won three straight after losing to Fresno on Oct. 13. Before the Beavers loss to CCSF on Sept. 29, the last time ARC lost was an Oct. 2, 2009 road game at Sierra College. The Beavers went on to win 22-straight, including an 11-0 record last season. “On Sept. 29 after the loss, we closed the door on that game and make the most of our conference run and see what happens with the hopes that we could get (CCSF) again,” Haflich said. Wide receiver Diondre Batson, who just signed a letter of intent to run track at the University of Alabama, led the Beavers with seven catches for 138 yards and one touchdown. In the four games he has played for ARC this season, he has 15 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Kickoff against Sierra will be at 1 p.m. at Beaver Stadium.
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Modesto

Beavers score 42 unanswered points in route to conference win

October 27,2012

Led by a three touchdown performance by backup quarterback Mike Hicks, American River College defeated Modesto Junior College 56-49 at Beaver Stadium on Saturday Oct. 27. With starting quarterback Jonathan Kodama in a walking boot with a foot injury, Hicks threw for one touchdown and ran for another two as the Beavers overcame a 35-14 deficit with just over two minutes left in the first half. The Beavers scored 42 unanswered points to take a commanding 56-35 lead before the Pirates scored two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Coupled with a Fresno City College win over San Joaquin Delta College and a Sierra College win over College of the Sequoias, the Beavers (7-2 overall, 2-1 Valley) are now in a four-way tie for first place the Valley Conference with two weeks left in the regular season. Drake Tofi led ARC with 110 rushing yards—his first career 100-plus yard performance for ARC—and Diondre Batson caught four passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, including a 38-yard pass from running back Devontae Booker in the third quarter. Zane Petty led the defense with 13 tackles and Samson Faifili contributed with seven tackles and one sack. Batson signed a financial aid agreement for a scholarship to the University of Alabama after the game. The sophomore qualified for the U.S. Olympics Trials this past summer in the 200-meter dash. The Beavers will play on the road next week at COS before hosting Sierra on Nov. 10 in the season finale.
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Fresno CC

Career night for quarterback Kodama leads Beavers to upset road win

October 20, 2012

When it mattered most, quarterback Jonathan Kodama played his best game for American River College. In the midst of a two-game losing streak-led by four touchdown passes by Kodama-the Beavers came from behind in the second half en route to a 31-21 road win over Fresno City College on Saturday, Oct. 20. “He was dealing,” ARC Offensive Coordinator Chris Parry said. “He threw into tight windows. Even some of the drops, he was getting in guys hands. He was phenomenal.” Down 14-3 with less than two minutes to play in the first half, Kodama orchestrated a drive, going 4-5 for 55 yards ending with a 2-yard score to freshman wide receiver J’Juan Muldrow to bring to score to 14-10 at the half, and giving the Beavers momentum. “We talked about managing the game better as a coaching staff and I thought that came to fruition on that drive,” ARC Head Coach Jerry Haflich said. “We were able to get the ball into the playmakers hands and we played within ourselves. We didn’t panic. “Once we got that touchdown, everybody got excited and everything was great,” Kodama added. Kodama finished 25-40 for career highs in passing yards (397) and touchdowns (4). The win also gives American River (5-2 overall, 1-1 Valley) momentum after two losses, including a conference road loss to San Joaquin Delta the week prior. Now with three games left in the regular season, the Beavers are in a four-way tie for second place in conference and with momentum that was nearly lost if ARC lost to Fresno. “As a football program, this is a great win, and for our players too,” Haflich said. “They learned to come from behind and learned to overcome. The spirit that rose up from within them didn’t come from us. They brought that on. They made that happen.” After losing two straight for the first time since 2008, Haflich knew his young team could have easily given up on the season with a loss just as quickly as the confidence of the team has switched to a bunch that now believes in each other. “It was a do or die for us. If we don’t win, our Valley Conference thoughts are done,” Haflich said. The Beavers also got healthier this season, after three defensive starters didn’t play against Delta on Oct. 13, the Beavers played at full strength and got a boost on offense from Diondre Batson. After spending the last two Saturdays on previously-scheduled recruiting trips for the U.S. Olympics Trials speedster, Batson was key in opening up the offense, giving ARC a vertical threat that the offense hasn’t had all season. Batson finished with 122 yards receiving, one touchdown and a 69-yard slant pass where Batson was brought down from behind. Batson jokingly said after the game that the defender got an angle on him, keeping the speedster out of the end zone. “He just took an angle. That’s all,” Batson said. “I just tried to score. I saw the end zone and my eyes got wide and someone grabbed my shoulder and I said ‘dang it.’” After the half, the Beavers looked like the momentum after the score going into intermission might have been lost. Tyler Trosin (96 receiving yards and 1 TD) fumbled a punt return after a three-and-out by the defense to open the third quarter. The Rams drove the field on the ensuing drive, capping off with a 14-yard pass, putting FCC up 21-10. But on the next drive, Kodama found Batson for a 26-yard precision pass to the back of the end zone. Following an interception by Petty on a tipped ball in the end zone, the ARC offense, with the help of the 69 yard pass to Batson, needed just four plays and a two yard touchdown pass to Corey Meshack for a four-yard score, giving the Beavers a 24-21 lead with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Beavers come home next Saturday, Oct. 26 against Modesto at 1 p.m.
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Delta

Beavers’ shot at title grows longer

October 13, 2012

The hope in the preseason was a shot at the state title. That goal wasn’t wavered after a 52-33 loss on Sept. 29 to No. 1 state-ranked City College of San Francisco two weeks ago. But now with a 31-14 loss to San Joaquin Delta College on the road on Saturday, Oct. 13—that lofty goal might be just a dream. “If we even want to think about the state championship, we have to hope Delta loses a game and we have to win out,” sophomore safety Scott Patalano said. The Beavers (4-2 overall, 0-1 Valley Conference) now need Delta to lose two games in the next four weeks for the Beavers to have a shot at winning the conference and playing for a shot at the state title game. A year removed from the first 11-0 season in program history, ARC took a step up in the level of competition this year to the top-tier-Valley Conference of the North Division in California Community College football. Off to a fast start with a 4-0 record and a nation-best win streak of 22 games to start the season—ARC now has their first two-game losing streak since a loss to Feather River on Oct. 31, 2009. The 14 points scored against Delta was also the lowest scoring output for ARC since Nov. 15, 2008 in a 22-7 loss against Sacramento City. And to point the finger at what was to blame for ARC would take more fingers than a human hand possesses. A defense that is geared to stop the run, gave up 256 yards rushing, including an 11-play drive for Delta late in the fourth quarter that ate up almost three minutes on the clock and set up a game-clinching field goal for Delta with just two minutes, 36 seconds remaining in regulation. The offense surrendered four turnovers, including two interceptions by Jonathan Kodama and a fumble by Devontae Booker on a kickoff return that resulted in a touchdown for Delta that allowed them to take a 28-7 lead in the third quarter. “We have to hold on to the football,” head coach Jerry Haflich said. The Beavers were also whistled for 14 penalties for 124 yards with personal fouls, false starts, and pass interferences that killed drives on offense and gave up numerous first downs after the defense held the Mustangs on third down. “We’ve got to stop making mistakes and getting turnovers that gives the opposition better opportunities,” Haflich said. The Beavers also punted the ball seven times against Delta, including five times after halftime, which prompted ARC to bench Kodama (11-23 105 yards) for freshman Mike Hicks who finished 3-4 passing for 15 yards. “We had four series with three and outs and we tried something different,” ARC offensive coordinator Chris Parry said about the change at quarterback in the second half. Parry also stated the team is committed to Kodama, but will need to evaluate film and hope that he can be more aggressive and find a rhythm during games. “We will sit down and look at the film and evaluate where we had problems with him, the receivers, the line—me,” Parry said. “We will put a plan together to try and get it fixed and hopefully we will work with Jonathan to try and get him better.” After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter to Delta, the ARC defense began to contain the Mustangs. After a missed field goal by Delta in the second quarter and forcing a punt and a fumble recovery by Leai Tauave, the offense for the Beavers finally got the ball moving. Kodama, in his only solid series of the afternoon, completed three of four passes on the final drive of the first half, including a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ference Lang. The touchdown brought the Beavers within seven going into halftime and would get the ball back after intermission. But the offense was unable to capitalize on the chance to tie the game up in the second half. “It was just too much stabbing ourselves in the foot,” Lang said. “We know we are capable of doing better. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot to help them to be successful off our mistakes.” Lang returned after missing two games with an ankle injury. The freshman finished with six catches for 55 yards and the first half touchdown. The Beavers were also hampered on offense by the first quarter benching of three offensive starters, including Booker, who finished with 102 yards rushing. The defense was also without starting defensive linemen Adrian Williams, Xavier Blunt and linebacker Kimball Nuumatalo. But returning starters linebacker Justin Lata, sitting alongside Patalano after the game, were ready to make any excuses after the loss. “We didn’t execute well,” Lata said. ”There is a lot of assignments and everyone needed to hold themselves responsible. The coaches prepared us for this game, but once it starts, it’s on us to execute. We killed ourselves.” Added Patalano, “We didn’t play with a sense of urgency.” The Mustangs (5-1, 1-0 Valley) now have the lead in the Valley Conference with Fresno City College. ARC plays at Fresno (5-1, 1-0 Valley) next Saturday. Haflich was quick to remind the team after the loss that the Beavers are still 4-2 and for the sophomores that were redshirts in 2010 to remember the team is 24-3 over the last two-and-a-half seasons. But he also made it very clear after the game that in order for the Beavers to have any shot at the playoffs, let alone the slim chance at a state title run, the players, who Haflich calls a “special and talented bunch,” need to hold themselves accountable. “It is important to be everywhere you are supposed to be on time,” Haflich said. “The rules are simple—be where you are supposed to be.”
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs San Francisco

The streak is over as Beavers fall to SF City College Rams

September 29, 2012

After nearly two calendar years since the American River College football team lost a game, the Beavers 22-game win streak finally came to an end. ARC lost 52-33 to reigning state and national champions City College of San Francisco on Sept. 29, ending the nation’s longest active win streak. “We are good enough to win a lot of football games the rest of the way,” ARC Head Coach Jerry Haflich said. “We knew we were going to be tested every week, and we didn’t pass that test (Saturday).” The loss came after a difficult week for the team, which included dealing with the recent shooting deaths of two people connected to a birthday party for Beaver cornerback Rozale Byrd. Byrd played on Saturday, recording five tackles while forcing and recovering a fumble. “I think it’s big for him and for us for him to get back,” Haflich said of Byrd after he missed two practices this week. “I hope we can help him heal.” Down by four at halftime, the Beavers offense imploded, giving up the ball five times and the loss of starting running back Devontae Booker nearly brought the offense to a halt. Booker injured his ankle after just one rush in the second half. The leading scorer in the state (22.5 points per game) was limited to just 13 carries and 90 yards. Backups freshman Drake Tofi and Antonio Bumpers played well in Booker’s absence, but quarterback Jonathan Kodama was picked off three times, one in the third quarter that was returned for a touchdown—and the Beavers could never climb back. “We are ready for this type of situation just in case,” Tofi said. “We prepare all the same and stay in that mindset that if one of us goes down, another one is ready to step up. Booker going down is a terrible thing for us, but we rally around.” Saturday was the first game of the season for Tofi after sitting out the first four games with a dislocated collarbone. The freshman from Monterey Trail High School finished with 40 yards rushing and a late touchdown for the Beavers. Haflich said Booker should be at full strength in two weeks when the Beavers head to Stockton to play the Valley Conference opener at San Joaquin Delta College on Oct. 13. During the fourth quarter in the press box on Saturday, ARC Athletic Director Greg Warzecka was not ashamed of the loss, instead acknowledging this as just one of ten regular season game—and a non-conference game at that. “We are very proud of our team and what they have accomplished this season,” Warzecka said. “It really just represents one game in the season. The schedule is so different. Nobody ever thought we would run the table and go 10-0. The schedule is just too tough.” This season’s team hopes to restart like the 2010 team did after losing an early season game. “We can either hang our heads and walk away or we can reload and come back and make a run at the Valley Conference,” Haflich said. “We’ve got a lot of football left and a lot to play for. We have a tremendous group of players. I love my football team.” The Beavers still have a solid chance at a rematch against SFCC in the postseason. The winner of the Valley Conference which the Beavers are in, plays the winner of the Rams conference (NorCal) to play for the right at the state title game. If both teams win out, a rematch would happen. On Saturday, players were more open to realize how the loss can put what has happened over the last 22 games in perspective. “Sometimes you have to take a tough loss to realize that there is someone who is better than you,” Tofi said. “We always try to fight for that top spot. It’s a great thing for us that even though we lost, it will keep us humble and we are not a perfect team.”
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Santa Rosa JC

Late interception seals win No. 22 for the Beavers

September 22, 2012

Win number 22 had it all for American River College. Attacked all afternoon by a high-energy Santa Rosa offense, the Beavers defense came up big late with an interception with just over a minute to play to hold on to a 42-28 victory on Saturday, Sept. 22. After the game, ARC head coach Jerry Haflich said it was maturity and the ability to adjust that helped the defense intercept three passes in the second half that gave the Beavers a insurmountable lead and extended the team’s win steak to 22 games. On a first down pass at midfield, freshman defensive back Rozale Byrd intercepted a screen pass and returned the ball for a touchdown with 1:11 left in the game as the Beavers took a two score lead for the first time all game. “They kept running it about four times during the game,” Byrd said of the screen pass. “So I saw the linemen come down for the screen, I stepped in front of the ball and took it to the house.” That insight of Byrd to recognize the play is what Haflich said changed the tempo for ARC in the second half. “(Santa Rosa) got into a pattern offensively and we made a great play into that screen again,” Haflich said. “So it was just a matter of us recognizing and (Byrd) making a really nice, tough play.” The Sept. 22 victory helped American River start the season (4-0) for the second straight year. Santa Rosa Junior College is now (2-2) for the season. For a team known for a prolific offense, the win was unique for ARC because of the variety of plays from surprising heroes that vaulted the Beavers to the first win over a North Division foe as a member of the top level of junior college football in California. Starting running back Devontae Booker was limited in the amount of offensive plays against the Bear Cubs, but the sophomore returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to give the Beavers a quick 7-0 lead. Booker finished with 163 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. He also scored on a five-yard pass, his fourth and final of the game. The Beavers also had some ingenuity from sophomore punter Raul Reyes. With the game tied at 21-21 in the fourth quarter. Reyes was rushed hard by two defenders as he faked the punt, Reyes ran to the right with the ball tucked under his arm. He then, quickly, punted the ball rugby-style down the field. With a very generous bounce, the ball hit off the Santa Rosa returner and Trevor Jones recovered the ball for ARC. “I felt that if I faked the punt, (Randy Harvey) would jump and he would get across and I just kicked it and it bounced in our favor,” Reyes said. Four plays later, the big boys got to eat at the buffet table. Six-foot one-inch, 340 pound defensive tackle Andrew Fuimaono lined up in a “jumbo” package for the Beavers with two other defensive linemen and scored a one-yard touchdown with just over 12 minutes to play to give the Beavers the lead for good at 28-21. “That’s been something we’ve been working on,” Haflich said. “It’s fun and great for Andrew, great for those big ole O-linemen to just punch it up in there.” The game wasn’t all fun and games for the Beavers. Depleted in the secondary, Santa Rosa continually found outside receivers for long receptions that kept the defense on the field and forced mistakes that resulted in a few scores that Haflich admits the Beavers need to clean up. “We can’t expect to have all these penalties and stay close with anybody,” Haflich said. The Beavers host No. 1 ranked and defending state and national champs San Francisco City College on Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. “It’s a pecking order game,” Haflich said. “San Francisco is the top team in the country, they are the top team in California. We want to play to that level. That’s our goal. We will find out Saturday if we are there or not.”
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Chabot

Beavers capture 21st consecutive win

September 16, 2012

American River College football’s past 20 games have been filled with intense moments, dominance on both sides of the ball, and mind-blowing plays. There was plenty of action to be seen Sept.15 as ARC captured its 21st consecutive victory on the road by beating Chabot Community College 45-24, despite more than a dozen ARC penalties for 130 yards. “It’s tremendous,” said Head Coach Jerry Haflich. “You know, it’s 21 in a row for us. It’s really exciting.” With both their passing and running game, the Beavers offense stole the show, scoring 45 points against the Gladiators. In the first quarter the Beavers attempted the wildcat formation with running back Devontae Booker. Quarterback Jonathan Kodama tossed the ball to Booker who threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver J’Juan Muldrow. However, the touchdown was overturned by a 10-yard offensive hold penalty. The Beavers first points of the game came on a punt return by Tyler Trosin who took the ball 83 yards with 6:34 left in the first quarter. The following possession saw back-to-back unnecessary roughness calls on the Beavers defense, one which wiped out an interception. The drive led to Chabot’s first touchdown. The game was then tied 7-7. The American River College fans erupted in boos and started heckling the referees. One ARC fan shouted: “Put them in a dress if they can’t take that hit.” The second quarter saw ARC dominating on both sides of the ball and scored three touchdowns in less than five minutes. On offense, Booker had a 15-yard rushing touchdown followed by a 14-yard receiving touchdown. Slot receiver Daniel Thomas had a 32-yard receiving touchdown on the next play. The Beavers led 28-7. The first half was winding down when defensive back Scott Patalano had an interception. However, a penalty marker was thrown for excessive celebration. The fans weren’t happy with that call either. Someone shouted “take their flags away.” The crowd’s boos got louder and the players on the sideline raised their arms to encourage the fans to show the officials their dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the defense held Chabot scoreless the rest of the half. “I’m very happy with the defensive effort especially in the first half they just played stellar,” Haflich said. To start the second half, Chabot took the ball 78 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing possession, ARC fumbled the kickoff at their 11-yard line. The defense held Chabot to a field goal. The score was 31-17. In the third quarter Chabot’s offense was forced into third and long. They didn’t convert, however a face-mask penalty on the play kept their drive alive. Chabot went on to score a touchdown. The score was 31-24 going into the fourth quarter. With eight minutes left in the game Booker had a 17-yard touchdown run. With a little more than two minutes left on the clock slot receiver Daniel Thomas scored the Beavers final touchdown. The Beavers beat the Gladiators 45-24. The American River College fans traveled well; the Beavers stands had roughly 200 people matching Chabot’s turn out. The crowd cheering seemed to help the team secure the victory. “To win any week is great,” Haflich said. “But to start the season 3-0 is exciting.”
by Jessica Maynard, Sports Editor, ARC Current

ARC vs Sacramento College

The 20th win might have been the hardest for American River College

September 7, 2012

On the night when Sacramento City College unveiled the new turf and amenities at the refurbished Hughes Stadium, the Beavers needed a strong second half to keep the win streak alive with a 38-23 victory over the Panthers on Friday, Sept. 7. The Beavers, ranked fourth in the state and 16th nationally, have not lost a football game since October of 2010. After the game, ARC head coach Jerry Haflich said he knew it wasn’t a pretty first half. “It was a combination of things,” Haflich said. “We had six or seven penalties in the second quarter and it just killed drives and we couldn’t keep it together.” After halftime, the Beavers made adjustments on defense to secure the ball, reduce turnovers and force them on the Panthers. A key fumble recovery off a muffed punt and three interceptions—two by Zane Petty—in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Beavers. Early in game, however, looked like it was going to be another blowout for the Beavers. In what seemed like a power move, Haflich elected to have Sac City re-kick the opening kickoff after the ball sailed out of bounds instead of taking the ball at the 35-yard line. The decision worked in the Beavers favor as Devontae Booker took the return back for a 95-yard touchdown return. Booker rushed for nearly 170 yards and two rushing touchdowns Friday night. Then Jakori Ford dislocated his kneecap after celebrating touchdown run in first quarter that gave the Beavers a 13-0 lead. Ford was on his back on the turf for nearly 20 minutes before taken off the field on a stretcher. The injury and time lapse seemed to play against the momentum the Beavers had taking an early 13-0 lead. Sac City also used a muffed punt return, as well as an onside kick and fourth down conversions to go along with a varied spread passing attack by sophomore quarterback Ronald Beverly to take a 20-19 halftime lead. “We were just privileged to be on the same field with them in the first half,” Sac City head coach Dannie Walker said. “In the second half, we made a costly turnover on special teams it was two mistakes and we can’t make them and expect to beat a team like this.” It was the first time the Beavers trailed at the half since Nov. 13, 2010. Coincidently, that game was also at Hughes Stadium against the Panthers. “The new stadium looks great,” Haflich said. “It has great history here, but the history for me here is not so good. We’ve struggled every year here. The turf looks great and it was good to come out on top.”
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current

ARC vs Monterey Peninsula College

Beavers demolish MPC behind record day for Booker

September 1, 2012

Sophomore running back Devontae Booker knew going into this season he had a chance to do some special things for the American River College football team. And special it was. Very early, and very often. Booker carried the ball 19 times for 291 yards and a school-record five touchdowns as the Beavers opened up the 2012 season with a 59-9 victory over Monterey Peninsula College at Beaver Stadium on Saturday Sept. 1. “With the hard work I put in this spring and fall, I just kept working my butt off,” Booker said. “Coming out here breaking the school record for rushing touchdowns—it felt good to break the record. I broke plenty of records in high school, but to do it at the collegiate level—it feels really good right now.” The Beavers (1-0) came into the season with an 18-game winning streak and a 21-1 record over the last two years. Ranked fifth in California for junior colleges and 23rd nationally, there was high expectations for the team. A question mark during the offseason was at quarterback after record-breaking quarterback Andy McAlindon left in late May after just one season with the Beavers. McAlindon signed a scholarship offer with Louisiana Tech. However, freshman quarterback Jonathan Kodama put to rest most doubts after playing a turnover-less game for the Beavers, completing 13-18 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns. He was successful on the short slant throws and screen passes. “We didn’t want him to have to try and be a big time vertical guy,” Haflich said. “We wanted him to managing a ton of the game. It was successful for him.” Kodama’s top target was freshman J’Juan Muldrow from Folsom High School. Muldrow started for the Beavers and finished with five catches for 97 yards and two touchdown grabs. “I didn’t think I would have that much of an impact in my first college game,” Muldrow said. “It was a good experience.” As lopsided as the final score was, it looked like the Lobos would make it a close ball game. After Kodama completed the first touchdown pass to Muldrow less than two minutes into the game, MPC sophomore defensive back Shane Larson picked up the block extra point and returned it 90 yards for two points. Moments later after Booker reached the end zone for the first time, MPC came back with a quick score on a five-yard touchdown pass from Cole Houston to Hiutton Buley to bring the score within four points at 13-9 with almost eight minutes still to play in the first quarter. “It’s a new defensive group and they are young and we weren’t really sure what they were going to run,” Haflich said of the early score by MPC. “We prepared for a lot and there was lot going through the kids heads.” But, Booker and company ran off 29 straight first half points to take a commanding 42-9 halftime lead. Haflich added “Once we settled in a figured out what they wanted to do, it allowed the kids to play faster. ”Sophomore linebacker Samson Faifili set the tone early for ARC with two first half sacks, and led the Beavers with six tackles and 2.5 sacks. ARC will have a short rest this week with a Friday night game at Sacramento City College. The Panthers will unveil the new field turf and refurbishing at Hughes Stadium. “Any time American River College and Sacramento City College play in anything, I don’t care if it is chess or football—it is a rivalry and there is going to be a lot of fun,” Haflich said.
by Trevor Horn, Senior Staff Writer, ARC Current