The American River College Beavers faced off against the Modesto College Pirates on October 5, 2024, in a thrilling football game that ended with a final score of 31-20 in favor of American River. The game took place in Modesto, California, and saw both teams put up a strong fight throughout all four quarters.
The first quarter saw American River take an early lead with an 11-yard pass from quarterback Jett Harris to Omari Baker, followed by a successful extra point kick by Landon Richardson. This put the Beavers up 7-0. The second quarter saw American River extend their lead with a 35-yard field goal by Richardson, making it 10-0. Modesto responded with an 18-yard pass from Luke Weaver to Xzavier Clark, but the extra point kick failed, leaving the score at 10-6. American River then scored again with an 11-yard pass from Harris to Dylan Fear, followed by another successful kick by Richardson, making it 17-6 at halftime.
The third quarter saw Modesto come back strong, with two touchdowns - a 17-yard pass from Weaver to Malachi Butler and a 33-yard run by Juan Esquivez. Both extra point kicks failed, but Modesto managed to take the lead at 20-17. However, American River fought back in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns - a 2-yard run by Akil Sohan and a 29-yard run by Elias Brown. With both extra point kicks by Richardson successful, American River secured the win with a final score of 31-20.
In terms of statistics, American River had 22 first downs compared to Modesto's 28. American River had a total offense of 387 yards, with 168 net yards passing and 219 net yards rushing. Modesto, on the other hand, had a total offense of 510 yards, with 266 net yards passing and 244 net yards rushing. American River had a higher third-down efficiency at 73%, compared to Modesto's 46%.
Individually, American River's quarterback Jett Harris had a strong performance, completing 13 out of 18 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Elias Brown also had a standout game, rushing for 150 yards on 20 carries and scoring one touchdown. On the defensive side, Brevin Amiga led American River with 8 solo tackles and 1 sack.
Overall, the game between American River and Modesto was a competitive and exciting matchup that showcased the talent and determination of both teams. American River's strong offensive performance and solid defense ultimately led them to victory, marking a significant win for the Beavers in the 2024 season.
