The Riverside Press-Enterprise
RB Strong helps RCC football team return to regional championship game
The Riverside City College football team is headed to its sixth consecutive Southern California Football Association championship game with an unparalleled offense averaging nearly 600 yards per game.
The Tigers have gained more than 2,200 yards running the ball this season, with some of their most important ground gained by freshman Bryce Strong.
“Any time I get the ball I try to make a spark out of it,” said Strong, who set career highs with 20 carries and 150 yards rushing as Riverside withstood a late challenge from Ventura College in a SCFA semifinal on Saturday.
The 5-foot-10 tailback has had some big performances in some big games, and will help lead the Tigers against Fullerton College this Saturday in the Socal championship game. Kickoff is noon at San Bernardino Valley College.
“We’ve got to stay focused and worry about what’s next, but we’re definitely trying to finish this season off the right way,” said Strong, a 2022 graduate of Colony High in Ontario.
An All-inland Area secondteam selection after two dominant high school seasons helping the Titans achieve CIF Southern Section success, Strong enrolled at RCC and has received more opportunities in coach Tom Craft’s offense as the season has progressed.
“I’m getting more comfortable with my offensive line and we’re doing our thing,” he said. “They stay disciplined, fill up their blocks and be thick on people, and it’s creating big holes for me and I’m making the best of it.”
Strong was the differencemaker in Riverside’s triple-overtime victory over Mt. San Antonio College, scoring late in the fourth quarter to tie the game before adding another TD in overtime to help RCC hold on to its No. 1 ranking in the state.
“That was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Strong, who totaled 146 yards rushing and two touchdowns, previous career highs, in the win.
Strong’s 6.7 yards per rush average has given the Tigers a consistent presence in the backfield behind an offensive line that pushes the point of attack on every down for quarterback Jake Retzlaff in the read-option offense.
“We dominate the line of scrimmage with our front five and that’s really where we set the tone,” Retzlaff said. “Bryce does a good job of doing it and running it consistently.”
Selected first-team ALL-SCFA this season, Strong added the Offensive Most Valuable Player award in the semifinal round after totaling 240 yards on offense against Ventura.
“Confidence is building. I’m thankful,” Strong said.
Holmes is player of year
Rancho Cucamonga native Jenna Holmes has been selected the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III National Player of the Year.
The junior outside hitter led Claremont-mudd-scripps to its first undefeated regular season (26-0) in program history, with the Athenas finishing 30-1 overall after losing in the regional final.
A graduate of Ontario Christian, Holmes is the first AVCA National Player of the Year at CMS since Margaux Arntson (2017) and Phoebe Madsen (2018 and ’19) both finished as the runner-up.
Holmes totaled 348 kills this season and had double-doubles in all five postseason matches (SCIAC and NCAA), averaging 13.6 kills and 10.8 digs in the playoffs.
Coyotes drop Hawaii tournament final
The Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team lost 87-75 to Central Oklahoma in final of the Hoops in Hawaii Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday.
Brandon Knapper scored 17 points with three rebounds and three assists for the Coyotes (5-1 overall), and was named to the all-tournament team.
The loss snapped CSUSB’S five-game winning streak. It’s the second consecutive year that the Coyotes have started the season with at least five consecutive wins.
The team opens up CCAA play with three road games before playing Cal State East Bay in its home opener at Coussoulis Arena on Dec. 16.
Ritchie named director of UC Riverside golf
UC Riverside women’s head golf coach Mary Ritchie has been elevated to Director of UCR Golf, it was announced.
Ritchie will lead a resurgent women’s team that took third at last spring’s Big West Championships, and boasts all-conference performers Tiffany Le and Kate Villegas.
“Coach Ritchie is a leader in our athletics program and continues to do things the right way, building and developing our student-athletes,” UCR athletics director Wesley Mallette said.
Ritchie has led the Highlanders since 2014. She was named LPGA National Coach of the Year following the 201516 season and the LPGA Western Section Coach of the Year in 2018.