Rams on fire after 59-7 blowout of Diablo Valley

By Patrick Cochran

In their most dominating win so far this season, the Rams beat Diablo Valley College Vikings 59-7 on October 14. The offense and defense played outstanding games and dominated from start to finish in the Ram’s fourth straight win.

The Vikings received the kickoff but quickly floundered on offense and were forced to punt, from their own 24-yard line. The Viking’s punt was blocked by Tarik Moore who returned it all the way to the 1-yard line setting up an easy score for the Rams.

It took only one attempt for star running back Isaiah Floyd to bang the ball into the endzone for the 1-yard rushing touchdown giving the Rams the 7-0 lead after kicker Greg Thomas nailed the extra point.

Midway through the 1st quarter the Vikings would score their only touchdown of the game when quarterback Jared Hoyer completed a 47-yard pass to wide receiver Devin McDaniels. The Vikings hit the extra point to tie the game at 7-7. After allowing that slip-up, the defense would play nearly perfectly not allowing the Vikings to sniff the end zone the rest of the game.

The Rams would get their next touchdown a couple minutes later in the quarter. Quarterback Zach Masoli completed a beautiful 59-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tyrek Allen. Masoli dropped back in the pocket and winged the ball downfield to Allen, who had gotten in front of his defender, caught the ball over his shoulder. The defender dived at Allen’s feet but was unsuccessful as Allen did a high step to break free and then ran all the way for the score.

Floyd would score the Ram’s next three touchdowns with scoring runs of 20, 65, and 2-yards.

Floyd looked like a man playing against boys.

On the crazy 65-yard touchdown run, Floyd first ran to the left, then cut back towards the right, then back towards the left, then juked a defender before rushing down the center of the field all the way to the end zone.

Floyd would score one last time at the beginning of the 3rd quarter giving him five rushing touchdowns for the game. Floyd finished the game with 241 rushing yards on 19 attempts with 5 touchdowns.

“I just had to thank my offensive line,” Floyd said. “They opened the holes for me and made it easy for me, where all I had to do was make the correct read.”

“Isaiah is blessed with some amazing gifts and athleticism and has amazing instincts,” coach Collins said. “What separates him is his amazing work ethic, which you saw out there today. He is the best running back City College has had in awhile.”

Masoli had his best game of the season so far, completing 10 of 18 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Head coach Sean Collins and the offensive coaching staff trusted Masoli to make big throws and he rewarded their confidence in him.

Masoli got his second touchdown pass at the end of the 2nd quarter when he completed another exquisite deep ball downfield to his wide receiver. Masoli dropped back and noticed that Shaa had the jump on his defender and threw a perfect deep ball, once again over the receiver’s shoulders, right into Shaa’s hands who proceeded into the end zone for an 83-yard score.

“The gameplan this week was more of ‘Zach have fun out there’ and that is what coach Collins told me all week and even today,” Masoli said. “So today was all about having fun and just playing catch with my receivers.”

“Zach was money today,” coach Collins said. “He did a great job attacking the defense and is playing great.”

The Rams continued to dominate the game even after they benched their starters. Backup quarterback Sean Duffy played admirably completing 5 of 7 passes for 139 and 1 touchdown. Kicker Greg Thomas would score the Rams last points when he hit a 31-yard field goal to give the Rams a 59-7 lead.

“It was a great win to start conference play,” Collins said after the game.

If the Rams can continue to play like this it won’t only be fun for Masoli and his teammates, but also for anyone who enjoys fast-paced, high-octane football.