The Fresno City College Rams shut out the College of the Sequoias Giants on Saturday afternoon by a score of 31-0. Running backs James Holland and Robert Johnson scored for the Rams while receiver Shakiem Barbel also found the end zone for the Rams.
The No. 4 ranked Rams came in with a record of 7-2 and riding high after wins over San Joaquin Delta and Modesto. The Giants came into the game with a record of 4-5 and no wins in conference play.
College of Sequoias quarterback Tyler Ferguson came in averaging 276 yards per game and leading the Valley Conference. The Fresno City College defense came in leading the Valley Conference with 18 interceptions. FCC defensive back Donnell Vercher had an interception in the third quarter of Saturday’s game to get his total to a state-leading nine interceptions.
American River College and FCC came into the game with a 3-1 conference record and a tie for the conference championship, with the tie breaker belonging to American River after they defeated the Rams on their Oct. 20 meeting.
The Ram defense owned the afternoon. They stifled starting COS quarterback Adam Ragsdale by only allowing him to throw for 13 yards. Tyler Ferguson was brought in to the game and fared better with 125 yards but was denied any touchdowns by the stingy defense. The Giants had a chance to put points on the board in the second quarter but missed a field goal from the 20 yard line.
“Any time we get a shutout it’s great defense,” said FCC coach Tony Caviglia. “Our defensive coaches and players did a great job. It was good to see.”
FCC offense was captained by freshman quarterback Robert Bender who was starting for the injured Trey Mitchell. In his first start for the Rams, Bender went 11 for 21 and threw for 152 yards including a 49-yard-pass from the Rams two yard line to receiver Tim Brown on a third and 28. That drive ended with a Trevor Samson field goal.
“We still called the same plays,” Caviglia said. “Robert Bender came in and took over for Trey (Mitchell) and did a great job. I am really happy with how he progressed and how he has taken on this starting role.”
The Rams split the running back workload between James Holland, Robert Johnson and Oliver Cyprian. Johnson started the scoring for the Rams with a 2-yard-run in the first quarter. Holland would find the end zone twice in the fourth quarter. His first touchdown run was an 8-yard-run straight through the line. He powered through multiple defenders to get in for the score. His second run was a thirty-eight-yard run that ended the six play drive with a touchdown for the rams.
Sophomore running back Cyprian said “They (College of Sequoias) played hard but we were on a mission, we were focused, more focused than we’d probably been, to finish the season strong.”
The game was the final conference home game for the Rams. Thirty-one sophomore players were introduced by name and position to the home crowd. Some of these included leaders of the FCC Rams such as defensive backs Duron Singleton and Donnell Vercher, receivers Anthony Yancy, Tim Brown and defensive players Kenny Castle and Corey Childs.
Caviglia said, “I thought James Holland ran good, I thought our defense tackled well, Kyle Staples, linebacker played well, there are so many good players on this team we are proud of all of them.”
The team must now prepare for their next opponent Butte College in the State Center Bowl. Butte College is coming into the game with a record of 9-1.
Looking ahead to the following game, Caviglia said “We’re starting to play some really good football right now and we’re a tough football team to beat. You want to play your best football in November.”
