The third home game of the 2017 football season turned out to be a charm for Head Coach Eric Marty and the Reedley College Tigers as they defeated San Jose City College 26-14 before a Homecoming crowd at Reedley High School's Sal Gonzalez Field on Saturday.
All of Reedley's scoring came in the first half as the Tigers improved to 2-3 on the season going into next Saturday's 1 pm matchup at Christopher High School in Gilroy against the Gavilan College Rams. Gavilan is one of five remaining winless teams in the state after last Saturday's 37-11 loss at home to Shasta College. But the Rams have given Reedley problems in recent years.
Against San Jose, quarterback Randall Johnson (Los Angeles), running back Trevion Perryman (Lemoore) and defensive backs Charles Peeples (Atlanta, GA) and Raul Montalvo (Kerman) were big stars for the Tigers.
Johnson passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. He finished with 12 completions in 22 attempts for 140 yards, completing passes to eight different receivers.
Reedley marched 86 yards in 11 plays on the Tigers' first possession with the touchdown coming on a 22-yard pass to Karon Reid (Wilmington, NC).
On the second play of the second quarter, Johnson found Darius Coty for a 10-yard score, capping a 10-ply, 76-yard march.
San Jose got on the board three plays after a lost fumble by Johnson.
But Reedley answered with a 64-yard scoring drive with Johnson scoring on a 9-yard run to increase the Tigers' lead to 19-7.
On his first of two interceptions, Peeples picked off a Jimmy Garwal pass and raced 68 yards for Reedley's final touchdown.
Perryman did the dirty work on the ground for the Tigers, carrying 22 times for 121 yards.
Montalvo was one of the leaders on the Tiger defense with five unassisted tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.

By Will Goldbeck