By Javier Cabrera / Managing Editor
By Javier Cabrera / Managing Editor
The amazing season ended on a high note for the Riverside City College football team following a 31-14 victory over Los Angeles Harbor College on Nov. 20.
The victory ended the Tigers’ season with a 10-1 record and the team also won the Central Conference Bowl title.
Riverside came into the bowl game winning seven straight games while rolling with strong with a 9-1 record and as the East Central Conference champions.
The opponent, Harbor, rushed into the bowl game winners of five straight along with an 8-2 record and as the West Central Conference champions.
The Tigers began the game with two dominate possessions while scoring two touchdowns in the span of nine minutes to lead 14-0 after one quarter.
Running back Andre Hunt scored the first touchdown with a 2-yard run in the opening three minutes. Hunt’s opening touchdown was followed by wide receiver, Joshua Walter’s 19-yard pass from quarterback Dalton Livingston.
Harbor found its way to remain in the game despite being down two touchdowns by keeping the Tigers out of the end zone for the whole second quarter.
Riverside managed to sneak in a short field goal as time expired to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.
Harbor repeated Riverside’s performance in the third quarter and scored two quick touchdowns of its own to cut the Tigers’ lead to three in the second half to make a close game heading into the fourth quarter.
Riverside found its first quarter offense after Harbor’s 14 unanswered points with a 6-yard pass by Livingston to wide receiver Steve Will with three minutes left in the third.
Then Hunt scored his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run with five minutes left in the fourth.
Prior to Hunt’s fourth quarter touchdown, there was a dispute on the Harbor’s sideline following a play where the Tigers completed a first down on fourth-and-inches.
Harbor believed the Tigers did not complete a first down but the referees assisted the Tigers did complete the first down.
Unsatisfied with the call, a member of Harbor said inappropriate words to the referee to express his feelings on the call but his actions led to his rejection from the sideline.
In the closing seconds of the game, a few players participated in pouring the cold water from the ice chest on to coach Tom Craft, as he ran away from the players dripped with cold water in the chilly rainy night.
Following the game the team gathered together in the center of Wheelock Field and waited to be handed the conference bowl title, while Livingston was named Most Valuable Player of the conference bowl game.
The Tigers’ fans applauded from the stands as the team roared like a tiger and as they growled loudly, the rain began to pour heavily, leaving a final mark on their glorious season as the team hoisted their conference bowl title for all to see.