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By James Williams / Interim Sports Editor
By James Williams / Interim Sports Editor
The Riverside City College football team looks to build off the 2011 season, in which they went 11-0 in its second season under coach Tom Craft.
The team faces a number of new conference opponents, as it was placed in the National Central Conference last December.
The Tigers were ineligible to play for the state championship last season because they were in the second tier of the Southern California Football Association.
The Association states that the teams in the first tier are the only teams able to play for the state title.
RCC was left to face Saddleback College in the Golden State Bowl game where Riverside won the game, 31-14.
Riverside starts the season on Sept. 1 on the road against Ventura College, as it heads into the season with new players in starting roles on offense and defense.
The Tigers will have their home opener the following week against Palomar College on Sept. 8.
“We have some team tough contest early, with Ventura on the road, coming back with Palomar, and going to Saddleback,” Craft said. “Those are three early tests.”
The Tigers had 35 players from the 2011 roster that transferred on a football scholarship to four year universities.
Some of the players including running back Sadale Foster, linebacker Will Smith and defensive lineman Lee Adams, who will be attending Texas Tech and linebacker Eddie Lackey, who is going to Baylor.
“We look like we have not missed a beat,” said sophomore running back EJ Schexnayder. “Just like last season, everyone is out there competing trying to earn a spot.”
With no returning starters on the Tigers’ offense, the offense that will be ran by a new group of talent including a transfer University of Utah transfer Tyler Shreve to lead the huddle.
Shreve said the team is coming together as a whole and the chemistry is strong.
“We are trying to make improvements every day,” he said.
Shreve said the team’s goal this season is get a national state championship.
