by Larry Ham

I’m not one to complain (don’t ask the editor about that, please), but Reedley College’s football team is getting a bit predictable. For the third straight week, the Tigers fell behind, and then rallied to take a late lead. The difference this last Saturday night was the Tigers snuffed out a late rally by Gavilan and won the game 44-33, to even their season record at 2-2.

Quarterback Joshua Allen (Firebaugh High School) didn’t even start the game, but managed to run twenty one times for 161 yards and four touchdowns. But it was wide receiver Rapheal Araujo-Lopes who was the real difference maker. On top of catching his sixth touchdown pass, Raphael retuned six kickoffs for an amazing 43 yard average – meaning the Tigers had great field position almost every time they got the ball. It’s hard to overstate just what a vital component those returns were to an exciting and well deserved win for Reedley College. Defensive Back Roedion Henrique also had a great interception late in the game to seal the win for Reedley, one of four Tiger takeaways.

The Tigers can enjoy the win over Gavilan for a couple of days, but as is always the case, another opponent looms this weekend, and it’s a big one. The Tigers face Fresno City College at Ratcliffe Stadium this Saturday at six, in the annual battle for the pump. On behalf of my webcast partner Will Golbeck and myself, I’d like to thank the schedule makers for allowing us to climb the 4, 863 steps at Ratcliffe two years in a row.

Check back every Monday evening during football season for the latest game recap and watch for some RC football interviews! And you can check out the webcasts here: www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=ReedleyCollege

Larry Ham is an ongoing contributor to our
Area Arts & Entertainment section where he covers local sports–something he has a great deal of experience in having covered many an area school game through the years for KRDU radio in Dinuba.