Rams stay perfect against Butte
By Ryan Kuhn
The Guardsman
With less than two minutes to go in the game, sophomore defensive back Allen Chapman came up with an interception on the 2-yard line, in what could be called the biggest play of his City College football career.
That interception would keep the Rams perfect record in tact defeating No. 4 Butte College at home last Friday, 37-34.
The interception was the third of the season for Chapman.
“Coaches said to press and I just came down with the ball,” Chapman said.
The defense had their hands full with running back Travis Davison for the Roadrunners who scored twice on touchdown runs, but it was another Butte player, that did a majority of the scoring.
Sophomore Rashad Ross gave the Roadrunners 14 quick points as he completed two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the second half, 70 yards and 94 yards, respectively.
“This game should have been a blowout,” said head coach George Rush. “We gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Take those out of the game and it’s a different game. It gave them momentum and they got all excited.”
Even though special teams struggled giving up the two touchdowns and a fumble on the opening kickoff to start the game, the Rams offense improved from the previous week.
Quarterback Steele Jantz had his best game of the season passing 19-32 for 355 yards and four touchdowns.
“Steele’s development has been really accredited to the coaches who have worked really hard with him,” Rush said. “He has developed into a really fine player.”
City College was the first to score when Jantz found receiver Royce Spencer on a 33-yard pass, but Butte tied it up minutes later on Davidson’s first of two touchdown runs.
Butte was about to tie the score at 7 on the point after attempt, the kick was blocked and returned by Rams defensive back Nigel Maloneto giving them an extra two points and putting City College up 9-6.
In the second half, the Roadrunners came out with 14 quick points, as the Rams fell behind only for the second time all season but two touchdown passes to Aaron Horne quickly changed that.
Twice Jantz found Horne on touchdown passes in the third quarter, the first for 65 yards and the second for 51.
Horne finished the game with 172 yards receiving, with 152 of them coming in the second half.
The Rams next opponent will be Laney College in Oakland this Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., one week before the match up with College of San Mateo, perhaps the most anticipated game of the season.
Rush knows he cannot over look the Eagles and Northern California’s leading rusher, Corterlie Anderson.
“What we need to do is not think about San Mateo and think about Laney”, Rush said. “We will get to San Mateo in due time.”