By Glen Willett / Staff Writer, Javier Cabrera / Editor in Chief

Eye on the ball (Jasmeet Singh / Photo Editor)
By Glen Willett / Staff Writer, Javier Cabrera / Editor in Chief
The Riverside City College football team opened its 2011 season filled with expectations by dominating the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines on both sides of the ball en route to a resounding 53-6 victory in front of a packed house in San Bernardino.
A preseason ranking of No. 12 in the nation among junior colleges by JCGridiron.com put a giant target on the Tigers’ back heading into Tom Craft’s second season with the program, a target the team seemed to relish with every big hit and long gain in their decisive win.
The RCC offense, which gained a staggering 564 total yards, was guided by quarterback Dalton Livingston who completed 16-of-31 passes for 332-yards and four touchdowns despite being taken out midway through the third quarter with the game well in hand.
Livingston looked early and often for wide receiver Sedale Foster who finished the game with 125 receiving yards on five catches and three touchdowns including an explosive 79-yard catch and run in the second quarter that saw Foster reverse field and pull away from the entire Wolverine defense.
“Sedale Foster had a great game on offense and as well as Dalton Livingston,” said Craft.
Stevie Will would also have a big game catching the ball amassing 113-yards on four grabs.
The offense was especially efficient when it counted most scoring on seven of their eight trips to the red zone; the only missed opportunity coming when the Tigers opted to go for it on fourth down in the third quarter at a time when kicking a field goal would have been nothing more than running up the score.
RCC was able to use their considerable size advantage to control the offensive point of attack throughout the game, giving Livingston plenty of time to make plays from inside of the pocket and leading the way to 210 total rushing yards for the Tigers.
After catching the RCC defense by surprise with a 59-yard flea flicker pass from quarterback Daniel Farley to Charles Harvey on their first play from scrimmage the Wolverines offense sputtered for the rest of the first half, often times leaving Farley to have to find ways to escape the pocket as it collapsed around him.
The Wolverines would finish the game with only 260-yards of total offense.
“We go into a rhythm with our no huddle; defense did a great job pressuring (San Bernardino’s) quarterback and the line of scrimmage,” Craft said. “We committed a lot of people to the line of scrimmage.”
“I think defensively our defensive line did a great job,” he said. “Lawrence Fenumiai got the interception (and) he played really well. We had some great hits (from) Will Smith and Eddie Lackey (and Zaire Anderson ) (and they) did a great job, (and) Lee Adams on the defensive line.”
The Tigers’ defense harassed whoever was under center for San Bernardino all game long, compiling five sacks and forcing three interceptions, one of which was returned by linebacker Will Smith for an RCC touchdown. The Wolverines were held scoreless for the majority of the game before an Otis Edwards touchdown run put SBVC on the board with just 1:53 remaining in regulation.
“This is a good start for us,” Craft said. “We know things are going to get tougher.”
The RCC defense was every bit as impressive against the run, holding the Wolverines to just 83 total yards on 30 attempts. RCC would often times having multiple players shooting into the SBVC backfield to break up running plays before they had a chance to get started.
“There are some areas where we can clean up: special teams, defense and offense but I was pleased with the effort and I think the guys played really well,” Craft said.
“Overall I thought it was a good first game,” he said.
RCC will again go on the road for its second game of the early season, facing off against the Rams of Victor Valley College on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.