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RCC football team defeats Long Beach in Kevin Craft’s head coaching debut – Press Enterprise

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Tony Ramos
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RIVERSIDE — This season’s quarterback competition at Riverside City College is just beginning.

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Riverside’s Kayvion Sibley (8) celebrates with team mates after scoring a touchdown in a game against Long Beach City College at Riverside City College in Riverside on Saturday Aug. 30, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)

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Bryan Wilson got the start but Jared Doolittle applied the finish on Saturday night as RCC ran away from Long Beach City for a 53-30 season-opening victory in Kevin Craft’s debut as the Tigers’ head coach.

“We were always thinking we’d play both quarterbacks (but) whatever it is or whoever we have to play to get into a rhythm on offense, that’s what’s important,” Craft said.

Wilson, who starred at Ayala and Roosevelt high schools, struggled on his first two drives but completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Doolittle, a graduate of Western Christian and last year’s backup, played mostly in the second half and was 13 of 17 for 133 yards and three touchdowns.

“We weren’t executing very well on the first couple of series and we need confidence out there,” Craft said. “We were slow starters last year so I’m focused on changing that.”

Ross Nickson had three receiving touchdowns as Riverside (1-0) compiled 565 yards on offense and won its 12th consecutive season opener.

“It’s good to get a first game under the belt,” Craft said. “We had to get a lot of the off-season cobwebs out of the way.”

Forced to punt early after starting its opening possession of the season at the 2, Riverside did not gain a first down on its own until running back Marquise Monroe (Ayala High) got consecutive carries for the Tigers.

“It was a pretty slow start but it’s all about getting that tempo up,” said Monroe, who finished with a game-high 77 rushing yards. “Getting that tempo up got their defensive line tired.”

Jonathan Marshall (Kaiser High) put Riverside up 7-3 with a 1-yard run midway through the first quarter, and Wilson shook off some early jitters to connect with Donavon Ferguson from 7 yards for touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

Long Beach gave Riverside two points when a long snap went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, and new place kicker Timothy Tynan made it 19-9 with a 22-yard field goal.

Ferguson hauled in a second touchdown catch from Wilson just before halftime and the Tigers went into the break with a 26-16 lead.

Long Beach, under first-year coach Marques Cooper, mounted a 9-minute drive to start the third quarter but the Vikings stalled at the 1-yard line.

RCC was unable to move the ball, however, and Long Beach scored on a screen pass on its next possession to make it 26-23. The Tigers fired back with a long touchdown pass from Doolittle to Nickson to keep it a 10-point game.

In the fourth quarter, Doolittle pinpointed touchdown passes to Logan Quates and Nickson, and Kayvion Sibley broke through on a 74-yard run for a touchdown as the Tigers pulled away.

Wyatt McCauley was 13 of 27 for 308 yards and three touchdowns for Long Beach. The Vikings (0-1) have not beat Riverside since 2016.

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