The Fresno City College football team wrapped up its preseason scrimmage against Chabot College Thursday night in anticipation for the upcoming season. It was a successful evening for the Rams, revealing what worked and what needed to be worked on.

The players were shouting and howling before the scrimmage ever began, showing that the offseason had built a mountain of anticipation among the FCC football squad.

“We had to be able to hit another opponent. We’ve been banging ourselves all week, all camp really,” said Head Coach Tony Caviglia. 

“It was good to finally be able to play against somebody else.”

FCC got both the win and the opportunity to see their whole roster in action. “We played 90 guys today, it and it was good to see a lot of these guys play and do a lot of different things,” Caviglia said.

Both squads used the start of the scrimmage to run drills, bringing out their kickers for simulated gameplay. They then transitioned into arranged offensive play, with the Rams trotting out their centerpiece players.

FCC’s star quarterback Jonah Johnson had difficulty finding his footing, throwing multiple incompletions and struggling to react to the defense.

Between the struggles, Johnson found opportunities to connect with running back Rico Rosario. Rosario danced through the defense to push the ball up the field with whooping teammates on the sideline.

At times, the Rams’ energy appeared to be a character flaw. With less than five minutes left to play, an on-field shouting match led to thrown punches and an FCC player ejection.

“We’ve got a lot of things to learn. We’re definitely not playing our best football right now and I think that’s still ahead of us,” Caviglia said as the team wound down in the locker room. 

Caviglia noted that there’s still plenty of room for improvement. He says he trusts his players to do what it takes to accomplish that with the end goal in mind.

“I just want to work to get better. I want our players to work to be better. I think if we come with a good attitude and we work hard, we’ll be able to get there,” Caviglia said.

The Rams will play their first official home game at Ratcliff Stadium on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. against the College of the Siskiyous.