Going into Saturday afternoon's non-conference football game in Marysville against Yuba College, the Reedley College Tigers were the unanimous choice as the number one American Division team in Northern California.
In Marysville, the Tigers played like it.
Reedley recorded its 12th victory in the last 13 games with a 38-8 victory over the Yuba College 49ers in Marysville on Saturday.
Next up for Reedley will be a 1 pm matchup at Reedley High School's Sal Gonzalez Field against the 0-2 Contra Costa College Comets. Contra Costa dropped a 48-10 decision on Saturday to Monterey Peninsula, ranked second in the American Division behind the Tigers.
The Tigers were tied for 17th in the state in last week's Junior College Athletic Bureau rankings and 20th in the state, according to the California Community College Sports Information Directors Association poll.
"It was a great road win," said head coach Eric Marty. "Our guys handled it with a lot of maturity and poise. It was great to see our defense build on their dominant week one performance and to see our offense of converting on third downs."
Against DeAnza, the Tigers were only 1-of-10 on third down. In the win over Yuba, Reedley was a lot better.
The Tigers scored on their first two possessions to build an early 17-0 lead. Less than four minutes into the contest, Reedley opened the scoring on a 1-yard run by Jamon Chambers before an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bubba Hickson to River Walker.
A 26-yard field goal by Jorge Rosales increased the lead to 17-0 with seven minutes and 49 seconds left in the first half. Rosales also made all five of his extra-point kicks.
They increased the lead to 31-0 in the second half after a short touchdown run by quarterback River Walker and a 5-yard scoring pass from Payton Mayer to Andy Pierre - Antoine. Jonathan Perryman scored the final Tiger touchdown.
Defensively, Okiki Olorunfunmi (Clovis) had a key interception for Reedley. Reedley was 7-of-15 on third down and only punted once. Hickson completed 16 of his 21 pass attempts for 262 yards and a touchdown.
Yuba's only touchdown came with just over four minutes left in the contest.
By: Will Goldbeck
Jamon Chambers TD Run
Bubba Hixon to River Walker TD Pass
Payton Mayer to Andy Pierre-Antoine TD Pass
Jonathon Perryman TD Run