Photos By: Chris Aguirre / Reedley Exponent
What a way to win your conference opener and stay unbeaten in 2018.
A 14 yard touchdown pass from Randall Johnson to Andy Pierre-Antoine with 17.9 seconds remaining sparked the Reedley College Tigers an exciting 31-24 victory over the Cabrillo College Seahawks at the Reedley High School Stadium last Saturday afternoon.
The victory improves Reedley to 5-0 overall while Cabrillo dropped its second straight conference contest after falling in overtime 50-44 to Hartnell last week.
The Tigers will take full advantage of a bye next Saturday before resuming action the following Saturday against Gavilan College at Gilroy High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm. Gavilan dropped a 42-21 decision to unbeaten Hartnell on Saturday.
The Reedley-Cabrillo contest featured 906 total offensive yards (586 for the Tigers) and 309 yards in penalties (156 for Reedley).
Johnson had an afternoon to remember, accounting for 476 yards of total offense. The sophomore from Los Angeles completed 19 of 29 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Reedley with 91 yards rushing.
Johnson had to take over more of the ball carrying duties after Jamon Chambers left with an ankle injury with about 10 minutes left in the first half.
After a scoreless first quarter, Reedley opened the scoring with a 94-yard drive in five plays. A 71-yard pass play from Johnson to Nicholas Clarke set up Johnson's 6-yard touchdown run with 11:07 left in the first half.
But Cabrillo answered back 76 seconds later on a 47-yard scoring pass from Josh Barron to Jaime Martinez.
The two teams traded touchdowns before halftime with the Tiger score coming on a 46-yard pass from Johnson to Pierre-Antoine.
Each team scored again on their first possessions of the second half.
Reedley came with several big defensive plays in the fourth quarter. FIrst, Darwon Hawkins intercepted a Cabrillo pass in the end zone. Next, Raul Montalvo stopped Cole Davis at the one after a 40-yard scamper. The Seahawks didn't gain anything on the next three running plays forcing them to settle for a 23-yard field goal.
The Tigers tied it at 24-all on a 32-yard field goal by Michael Hamman with 4:09 remaining.
Freshman Lazavier Moore recorded a big quarterback sack, forcing the Seahawks to punt with about 1:40 left.
It took 1:17 for the Tigers to march 73 yards for the winning score. Big plays were 9-yard runs by Johnson and Michael Eddings (who returned to action after being shaken up earlier) along a 23-yard pass to Daniel Baca.
The game-winning score came on a play that head coach Eric Marty said that the Tigers just added to their game plan last week. It almost seemed as if the ball hung in the air forever before the freshman from North Miami, FA made the deciding catch.
Cabrillo's field position was hurt when a lineman was called for unsportsmanlike conduct allowing Reedley to kick off from the 20. Cabrillo managed only 12 yards on four plays before time ran out.
By Will Goldbeck
