Fresno City College Rams win the Battle of the Pump against their rivals, Reedley College Tigers at home winning 24-21 in a roller coaster of a game that led to them clinching a playoff spot.
Leading up to this week Coach Caviglia talked about how with a win over Reedley would give the team a chance to reach the playoffs.
“We need to finish this conference schedule out on a high note so that we can get to the postseason and we have to win this game to do it,” Coach Caviglia said.
The focus of the game for Coach Caviglia is to play a sound game. This game is only the start of the final push towards the end goal for Coach Caviglia.
“We haven’t played a complete football game but I like the way our team is progressing, we’re finding ways to win football games,” Coach Caviglia said. “Obviously we’re not even close to being done yet, there’s still room for growth this late in the season.”
The Rams offense came out the gates with a long opening drive touchdown. On 4th and goal quarterback Alec Trujillo threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Valee Washington to go up 7-0 early.
The Tigers and Rams went toe to toe the whole game with both teams responding to one another.
Before the half, the Rams were up 14-7. Instead of taking a knee at the Reedley 28-yard-line to end the half or kicking the field goal, Trujillo threw an interception. The Tigers would avoid getting tackled by throwing a lateral pass that would lead to a touchdown. The game is now all tied up 14-14.
As halftime came to close, the Rams defense needed to make a stand.
In the middle of the third quarter, Noah Noyola came up with a huge interception that switched the whole momentum of the game. The pick led to a touchdown with the Rams now up 21-14.
The Tigers matched the score immediately making the score 21-21.
The fans were all in bringing on the noise especially late in the fourth quarter with the sound of the cowbells and cheers.
In the fourth quarter the Rams offense started at their own 12-yard-line, drove down the field chewing the clock for nine minutes ending with kicker Johnny Enriquez sinking a field goal from the 26-yard-line to put the Rams up 24-21.
The fans were all in bringing on the noise especially late in the fourth quarter with the sound of the cowbells and cheers.
On a last ditch effort by the Tiger’s final drive, the Rams defense took a big step up. Marshaun Clayton forced a fumble and the Rams recovered the ball, sealing the game. .
After a victory formation by the Rams, Reedley College showed no sportsmanship and headed straight to the locker room as Fresno City College players waved them goodbye as the Rams punched their way into a playoff berth.
The Fresno City College Rams have now won 5 in a row and are 4-0 in the conference with one more conference game left in the season.
The Rams last regular season game is away against Modesto Junior College at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11.
