Pictured L-R: Riverside quarterback Brady Jones & Mt. SAC running back, Devin Miles 

Football:

It doesn’t get much bigger or better than this.

The No. 1 and No. 2 junior college football programs in the state of California meet up this Saturday night in Walnut.

And the winner will earn a spot in next week’s state title game at the winner of the San Mateo-Modesto game.

Last week, No. 1 Mt. SAC ran away from El Camino, 48-24, in their semifinal round contest.

On the flip side, No. 2 Riverside, the defending state champions, had to overcome a 30-0 deficit midway through the third quarter before claiming an incredible 37-30 come-from-behind victory.

The Tigers (10-1) lone loss of the 2024 season was a one-point (37-36) setback at Golden West in a week-two thriller.

Aside from wanting to play for a state championship and maintaining their undefeated season, Mt. SAC would like to pay Riverside back for ending their season in 2023.

In last year’s semifinal in Walnut, RCC edged the Mounties, 51-48.

The Tigers outscored the Mounties, 27-10, in the second half.

This Saturday, the Mt. SAC (11-0) defense will have its biggest challenge of the year, as they hope to slow down the state’s No. 1 offense.

RCC averages 56 points and 585 total yards of offense per game.

The Tigers have scored 50 or more points in seven of their 11 games.

And that includes the rare feat of putting up 70 or more points in two games.

Riverside quarterback Brady Jones has completed 268-of-417 for 4,125 yards.

Jones has tossed 43 TDs and eight interceptions.

Jones is No. 1 in the state in passing yards, TD passes and passing yards per game (395).

In fact, his 4,125 passing yards is nearly 1,000 more than the next closest competitor, Logan Gonzalez (3,191) of Mt. San Jacinto.

The Tigers average just under 200 rushing yards per game.

RCC’s ground game is anchored by Andre Branch (75-502 & 3 TDs), Devyne Pearson (67-353 & 8 TDs), Brady Jones (55-348 & 5 TDs), Marquis Monroe (36-316 & 4 TDs) and Brandon McMasters (34-183 & 10 TDs).

Riverside’s receiving corps is paced by Dominic Cox (60-1,171 & 12 TDs), Jackson Owens (38-882 & 12 TDs) and Kaden Willerford (44-525 & 2 TDs).

While RCC’s offense has a 612-442 advantage in points scored this season, MSAC’s defense has surrendered nearly half (149-284) of what the Tigers have allowed in 2024.

The Mounties ‘D’ allows just 280 yards of offense and 16 points every Saturday.

Darrell Tripline (58), Juruan Hardin (42), Juan Salas (42), Kalim Mikhail (40) and Teyondre Coleman (34) lead Mt. SAC in tackles.

Hardin is the team leader in sacks (6.5) and tackles for-loss (14).

Juan Salas leads both programs with four interceptions, while Harold Peters and Brayden Hapner have two picks apiece.

The Mt. SAC offense is balanced, and they average 44 points per game.

Noah Fuailetolo has completed 93-of-151 for 1,127 yards.

He’s tossed 12 TDs and five interceptions.

Jack Benson is 64-of-92 for 949 yards.

Benson has thrown 10 TD passes and he’s been picked twice.

Devin Miles has paced the Mounties ground game.

Miles is No. 3 in the state in both rushing yards (1,154) and rushing TDs (15).

He’s fourth in rushing yards per game (116), and Miles has 17 receptions for 217 yards and a pair of TDs.

Jayson Cortes (74-415 & 4 TDs) and Samuel Green (31-144 & 5 TDs) have also been key to a rushing attack that averages 209 yards per game.

De’shon Thompson is the MSAC leader in receptions.

Thompson has caught 39 passes for 449 yards and four TDs.

Pierce Brown (17-193 & 3 TDs), Juwan Grant (15-346 & 5 TDs) and Nicolas Ceballos (14-203 & 2 TDs) have been reliable targets for Fuailetolo and Benson.

The Tigers have a number of stars on the defensive side of the ball.

Ja’wuan Nickson has a team-high 69 tackles, including 12 for-loss, and seven sacks.

Peter Eyabi’s 10.5 sacks leads RCC, and he’s totaled 53 tackles and 16 tackles for-loss.

Esaia Bogar has 45 tackles, including 17 for-loss, and 9.5 sacks.

Tayven Anderson has contributed 52 tackles (7.5 for-loss) and a pair of interceptions.

Riverside and Mt. SAC both have reliable kickers.

Luis Marin has made four of his five field goal attempts, with his longest being 31 yards.

Marin is also 59-of-62 on RCC’s extra-point attempts.

Jacob Bonilla leads the Mounties kicking game.

The freshman is 10-for-12 on field goals.

Bonilla’s longest is 42 yards.

He’s also converted on 37-of-40 extra-point attempts.

The kick is set for 6.

By the Numbers:
Records: R (10-1); M (11-0)
Points Scored: R (612); M (442)
Points Allowed: R (284); M (149)
Average Margin of Victory: R (56-26); M (44-16)
Passing Yards Per Game: R (395); M (214)
Rushing Yards Per Game: R (190); M (209)
Total Offense Per Game: R (585); M (423)
Total Offense Allowed Per Game: R (301); M (280)
Passing Yards Allowed: R (219); M (208)
Rushing Yards Allowed: R (83); M (73)
Most Points Scored in a Game: R (76 vs Mt. San Jacinto); MS (62 vs OCC)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: R (46 vs Saddleback); MS (28 vs El Camino)
Least Points Allowed in a Game: R (3 vs Southwestern); MS (3 vs OCC)
Riverside’s Road Record: 4-1
Mt. SAC’s Home Record: 6-0
Current Win Streak: R: (9); MS (11)
JCAB State Ranking: R (2); MS (1)
CCCSIA State Ranking: R (2); MS (1)

Offensive Stat Leaders:

Quarterbacks:
Brady Jones (R): 268-of-417 for 4,125 yards, 43 TDs & 8 INT
Noah Fuailetolo (M): 93-of-151 for 1,127 yards, 12 TDs & 5 INT
Jack Benson (M): 64-of-92 for 949 yards, 10 TDs & 2 INT

Running Backs:
Devin Miles (M): 164-1,154 & 15 TDs
Andre Branch (R): 75-502 & 3 TDs
Jayson Cortes (M): 74-415 & 4 TDs
Devyne Pearson (R): 67-353 & 8 TDs
Brady Jones (R): 55-348 & 5 TDs
Marquis Monroe (R): 36-316 & 4 TDs
Brandon McMasters (R): 34-183 10 TDs
Samuel Green (M): 31-144 & 5 TDs

Receivers:
Dominic Cox (R): 60-1,171 & 12 TDs
Jackson Owens (R): 38-882 & 12 TDs
Kaden Willerford (R): 44-525 & 2 TDs
De’shon Thompson (M): 39-449 & 4 TDs
Pierce Brown (M): 17-193 & 3 TDs
Devin Miles (M): 17-217 & 2 TDs
Juwan Grant (M): 15-346 & 5 TDs
Beau Bruins (R): 22-276 & 4 TDs
Nicolas Ceballos (M): 14-203 & 2 TDs

Defense Stat Leaders:

Tackles:
Ja’wuan Nickson (R): 69
Darrell Tripline (M): 58
Peter Eyabi (R): 53
Tayven Anderson (R): 52
Esaia Bogar (R): 45
Juruan Hardin (M): 42
Juan Salas (M): 42
Kalim Mikhail (M): 40
Teyondre Coleman (M): 34

Tackles For-Loss (4 or more):
Esaia Bogar (R): 17
Peter Eyabi (R): 16
Juruan Hardin (M): 14
Ja’wuan Nickson (R): 12
Tayven Anderson (R): 7.5
Darien Jackson (M): 6.5
Jaylen Crutchfield (M): 4.5
David Lene (R): 4.5
Makai Sagiao (R): 4.5
Kalim Mikhail (M): 4
Gerliaer Ervin (R): 4
Julien Lopez (M): 4
Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (M): 4

Sacks: (2 or More):
Peter Eyabi (R): 10.5
Esaia Bogar (R): 9.5
Ja’wuan Nickson (R): 7
Juruan Hardin (M): 6.5
Darien Jackson (M): 5
Julien Lopez (M): 3.5
Mathias Malaki-Donaldson (M): 3.5
Kone Aumua-Uiagalelei (M): 3
Jeremiah Faustin (M): 2.5
Myles Hancock (R): 2

Interceptions (2 or More):
Juan Salas (M): 4
Harold Peters (M): 2
Brayden Hapner (M): 2
Tayven Anderson (R): 2
Ahamad Chapman (R): 2
Yoshua Yhisreal (R): 2

Kicking:

Field Goals:
Jacob Bonilla (M): 10-for-12, long of 42 yards
Luis Marin (R): 4-for-5, long of 31
Matthew Fidone: (M): 2-for-3, long of 42

Extra Points:
Luis Marin (R): 59-for-62
Jacob Bonilla (M): 37-for-40
Matthew Fidone (M): 14-for-18

Riverside Schedule & Results:
9/7: RCC 44, Long Beach 21
9/14: Golden West 37, RCC 36
9/21: RCC 70, El Camino 45
9/28: RCC 52, Palomar 14
10/5: RCC 76, Mt. San Jacinto 16
10/12: Bye Week
10/19: RCC 62, Grossmont 10
10/26: RCC 69, Southwestern 3
11/2: RCC 63, Saddleback 46
11/9: RCC 62, San Diego Mesa 41
11/16: RCC 41, Fullerton 22
11/30: RCC 37, San Diego Mesa 30
12/7: RCC at Mt. SAC

National-Southern Standings:
Riverside (10-1, 7-0)
Saddleback (8-3, 5-2)
San Diego Mesa (8-3, 5-2)
Mt. San Jacinto (6-5, 4-3)
Fullerton (5-5, 3-4)
Palomar (4-6, 3-4)
Southwestern (2-8, 1-6)
Grossmont (1-9, 0-7)

Mt. SAC Schedule & Results:
9/7: MSAC 38, Mt. San Jacinto 21
9/14: MSAC 41, Allan Hancock 19
9/28: MSAC 41, Citrus 20
10/5: MSAC win via forfeit over SBVC
10/12: Bye Week
10/19: MSAC 61, Cerritos 14
10/24: MSAC 51, ELAC 7
11/2: MSAC 62, OCC 3
11/9: MSAC 44, Long Beach 14
11/16: MSAC 34, Golden West 27
11/30: MSAC 48, El Camino 24
12/7: Riverside at MSAC

National Central Standings:
Mt. SAC (11-0, 7-0)
Golden West (9-2, 6-1)
Long Beach (6-5, 5-2)
Cerritos (5-5, 4-3)
Citrus (5-5, 3-4)
OCC (2-8, 2-5)
ELAC (2-8, 1-6)