San Joaquin Delta College wide receiver Garrett Andrews slips out of an attempted tackle by Rams’ linebacker Michael Tupai at the Hawaiian Punch Bowl on Dec. 6. The Mustangs won the game with a final score of 36-14. ERIC SUN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

By Bontã Hill
Editor

In a season that had its ups and downs, the Rams didn’t envision the 2008 season to end the way it did on Dec. 6. The Rams, riding on a four game winning streak coming into the Hawaiian Punch Bowl, lost 36-14 to the San Joaquin Delta College Mustangs.

The Rams finished the season with a record of 7-4, the program’s worst record in 20 years.

Turnovers, missed tackles and critical penalties all proved too much to overcome as the Rams dug themselves a hole they could not manage to climb out of.

The Mustangs took control of the game early as they recovered a fumble on a punt return by Myles Gates at the 13-yard line. During the next play, Delta quarterback Alesana Sausau completed a 13-yard pass to receiver Zuri Nance for a quick 7-0 lead.

“Things didn’t go well from the first punt on,” Head Coach George Rush said. “The first series, we made them go three and out, they punted, and it went downhill from there. [We] have no excuses. Their [the Mustangs’] kids played great.”

The Rams could not find an offensive rhythm with their first three offensive possessions, all ending with turnovers.

Rams running back Andre Patterson and quarterback Kevin Vye each threw interceptions, and on fourth-and-one at the end of the first quarter, running back Monte Davis was stuffed short of the first down.

Midway through the second quarter, the Rams’ offense was still struggling. Delta took the advantage and scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass to receiver Garrett Andrews from quarterback Peitro Murdaca. Andrews went on to score four touchdowns that day. During the play, the Rams’ defense was unable to react after an offsides penalty was thrown, allowing Delta to take a 16-0 lead with just under five minutes of play left in the first half.

“We thought it was a false start,” Rams Jarrell Harrison said of the touchdown play. “ I think D.J. [Gomes] saw something else that made him jump up, and the receiver kept going. It’s real unfortunate.”

With the Rams feeling a sense of urgency, they quickly drove 82 yards to get themselves back in the game. Vye hit Patterson on a screen pass, and with some great blocks down field, Patterson took the catch 32 yards for a touchdown bring the Rams closer with a score of 16-7.

Delta though, playing with nothing to lose drove right back. Quarterback Murdaca came and hit Andrews for a 42-yard touchdown to put the Mustangs up 22-7 going into halftime.

“With the early turnovers, we basically couldn’t build up any rhythm offensively,” Vye said.

Beginning the second half, Vye threw another interception halting a Rams drive, but the defense tightened up and forced the Mustangs to punt. The Rams then got in gear as Vye completed a 25-yard pass to receiver to Daniel Cannon. A play later, Vye threw to receiver Randell Washington for a touchdown cutting Delta’s lead to 22-14.

Whenever the Rams would seize the momentum, Delta had an answer. Delta quickly drove into Rams territory, and again Murdaca hit Andrews down the right sideline for a 44-yard catch and run. It was Andrews third touchdown of the game as he beat All-league cornerback Gomes for the third time of the day, making the score 29-14, seemingly sucking the life out of the Rams.

“For the first time in a long time we didn’t tackle well and our pass coverage wasn’t what it normally was,” said Rush. “For the most part [pass coverage] was pretty good.”

Delta scored another touchdown making the score 36-14 as the Rams remained offensively out of sync. With the Rams struggling to run the ball and showing no passing rhythm, the Rams fought to the final whistle, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“I have no problems with our players, they played real hard,” Rush said. “What they need to remember is what they did to get here playing shorthanded. They won some big games down the stretch. I’m real proud of our kids with the way they fought.”

“It’s disappointing for players and coaching staff because we had such a great run to get here, but I’m real proud of how we played, we played hard,” Rush said. “In the end, it just wasn’t our day.

The Rams’ Corey Jackson looks for an opening as he returns the Mustangs’ kickoff in the Hawaiian Punch Bowl at Rams Stadium on Dec. 6. The Rams would go on to lose to the Mustangs 36-14. ERIC SUN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

City College Rams' cornerback Kenronte Walker and safety Jarrell Harrison tackle College of San Mateo's quarterback Wes Price at Rams' Stadium on Nov. 1. ANNE-MARIE STARK / GUARDSMAN

By Bonta Hill
Editor

With rainy weather, poor field conditions and wind blowing through Rams stadium, the City College Rams gutted out a 14-7 win over the College of San Mateo Bulldogs on Nov. 1. The win was the Rams’ second in a row, and put them back on track for the conference championship (5-3, 1-1).

The Rams’ special teams came through with four blocked punts while the defense did the rest to keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone, which preserved the victory. Even with poor weather conditions, Rams’ Head Coach George Rush was pleased after the game with his team’s performance.

“I’ll be real honest, I don’t know when the last time somebody held that [San Mateo] offense without a score,” Rush said. “It’s been a tough year, but we got right back in the mix.”

In the first quarter, the Rams’ first touchdown came after their first blocked punt. Running back David Henderson took the hand-off from quarterback Kevin Vye and scampered around the right for a 14-yard touchdown.

Rams safety Jarrell Harrison, who had another strong game with an interception at the goal line, blocked the third punt allowing the offense to get the ball in a great position on the field, but the Rams’ failed to capitalize.

On the fourth down from the two-yard line, Rush elected to go for the field goal. Center Daniel Curtin snapped the ball over the kicker but after a game of hot potato with a slick ball Bulldogs linebacker Ratu Rabela finally got hold of it and took it all the way to the end-zone to briefly tie the game 7-7. Rush didn’t second guess himself about the decision to not go for the touchdown.

“In this weather, they may not score another point, and that may be the difference in the ball game,” Rush said. “Unfortunately we didn’t get it through the goal post.”

Corner back John Mark Henderson was able to pick up the loose ball on the fourth and final blocked punt with the help of the Rams’ defense. The Bulldogs then lined up in their offensive formation and tried to fool the Rams by attempting a quick kick, which was soundly blocked, and cornerback Henderson scooped up the loose ball giving the Rams the lead at 14-7.

In the second half, the Rams took away the Bulldogs’ running game and forced them to pass. The Bulldogs looked very uncomfortable passing and couldn’t get anything going to tie the game. The Rams were just having a fun day in the rain.

“It was real fun out there and it made the game even more intense,” said Rams’ corner back Devin Mays, who had an impressive interception in the end zone to thwart another Bulldog drive. “The front seven made it easier for the secondary to stop the pass.”

Beating the Bulldogs puts the Rams in a second place tie with Foothill College, whom they play this Saturday at Foothill.

“Special teams won this game for us,” said Vye. “Now we’re just going to come to practice, study up on Foothill and go from there. Hopefully we can get three in a row.”

Hopefully the weather will be better, but as the Rams proved against San Mateo, they can win in almost any circumstance.