Surging Griffins face SoCal No. 1, revenge-minded Riverside
- Updated: September 18, 2015
Grossmont freshman Jamarcus Frederick, of Winter Garden, Fla. / Daniel Lottes
2015 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (9-18-15) — This one has postseason playoffs connotations and heavy revenge factors.
That is, host Riverside City College and the visiting Grossmont Griffins match 2-0 records on Saturday (Sept. 19) at Wheelock Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
The Tigers come in ranked No. 1 in Southern California while Grossmont is No. 12.
Talk about déjà vu . . . Riverside traveled to Grossmont with a No. 1 ranking a year ago. The Griffins were winless and ranked No. 20. A blowout was in the offing.
Grossmont pulled off a stunning 38-28 victory, sending the Tigers packing. No question, coach Tom Craft and his Riverside contingent has not forgotten.
“They’re gonna come after us,” said Griffins coach MIKE JORDAN. “It’s our job to hold them off.”
Grossmont, which has allowed only one touchdown in victories over Southwestern and Pasadena, is averaging 51.5 ppg. This a versatile outfit with 10 running backs, 2 quarterbacks, 13 receivers and a deep offensive line.
The Griffins are gaining 247 yards rushing per game with THOMAS McDONALD leading the way 197 yards and 2 TDs on 17 carries.
Speedy NEHEMIAH BROWN is averaging 11.3 yards and 2 TDs on a dozen carries to support McDonald.
Quarterbacks TOMMY PISTONE (25-for-35, 351 yards, 3 TDs) and MICHAEL CARRILLO (25-for-40, 258 yards, 3 TDs) share the signal calling duties.
CHRISTIAN BROOKS is the top receiver with 10 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive end safety DEVAUGHN MURRAY heads up the secondary with 3 interceptions and averages close to a dozen tackles.
Linebackers KALEB HARSTVEDT is a key in the Griffins alignment, along with NICK GALATIS.
Defensive linemen CHRIS ERBY and VICTOR WASHINGTON, defensive backs AIRRIC PARKER and MAURICE CARNELL, and linebacker JORDAN ARNOLD are the hub of the Griffins’ defense.
But this thing has plenty of depth so a lot more players will get involved.
Griffin Graffiti – NICK GALATIS was named the SCFA Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He had a game-leading 11 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and a pass breakup . . . Grossmont running back THOMAS McDONALD was a conference Honorable Mention in the Offensive Player of the Week balloting with 8 carries, 157 yards and 1 touchdown . . . The Griffins lead this all-time series 8-6-1 but picked up two extra victories due to forfeits . . . Riverside opened the season with a 33-14 victory in Bakersfield, and followed that with a home conquest with a 38-18 against Saddleback . . . Grossmont slaughtered Southwestern 52-10 and pummeled Pasadena 51-0.
