Rams Lose Tough Game at Home vs. San Mateo

The Fresno City College football team faced one of the toughest challenges of the season so far when they met the College of San Mateo Bulldogs on Sept. 16 at home. The Rams had a difficult time getting the ball in the end zone all game and ultimately ended losing the game by two points in a final score of 19-21.

With both San Mateo and FCC undefeated, the game looked to be a great one from the start. The first period was a tough one, but neither team could get in the end zone and it ended with a 0-0 score.

FCC scored the game’s first points when kicker Evan Rios put one through the uprights from the 35-yard making it 3-0 in the second half. The defense came out more aggressive in the second quarter and forced a safety that put FCC up 5-0.

Just minutes before the end of the first half, FCC was driving down the field when quarterback Trey McJunkin threw a ball that was intercepted by San Mateo’s cornerback Jamarri Jackson who returned the interception for a 54-yard touchdown.

After the kick San Mateo went up 5-7 and took the lead into halftime.

The Rams finally got in the end zone in the third quarter when wide receiver Cotlin Velazquez caught a 4-yard pass from McJunkin to put FCC up 12-7. The Bulldogs answered three minutes later with a touchdown of their own when quarterback Shank Akina called his own number and runned it in for four yards.

With the score 12-14 in favor of San Mateo, the fourth and final quarter of the game was going to be crucial for both teams.

The Bulldogs added to their lead early in the fourth quarter when running back Cameron Taylor ran for three yards, giving San Mateo the decisive touchdown and making the score 12-21.

With time running out, FCC needed to score at least one touchdown and a field goal to have a chance of winning. The Ram’s opportunity came when wide receiver Ontario Johnson made a nine-yard catch from McJunkin. With the score 19-21, all FCC needed was a field goal to win the game, but San Mateo was not about to let the lead go that easy.

FCC had one last shot at winning the game. Starting from their own 5-yard line with 23 seconds left in the clock and no timeouts, it looked possible to get within distance of a field goal.

Winning became more of a possibility when McJunkin completed a 39-yard pass to Velasquez putting the Rams on San Mateo’s 44-yard line, but after a spike of the ball to stop the clock quarterback Chris Dye was sacked during the very next play of the game and the time expired.

The final score was 19-21, giving FCC its first loss of the season.

“We played a tough team, a top 10 team in the state and we made too many mistakes,” said coach Tony Caviglia after the game, “but we still could of won that game. If we just keep progressing and believe that we are a good team this loss won’t affect us.”