The American River College football team hosted rival the Sierra College Wolverines on Nov. 2 at Beaver Stadium, where they won a 44-41 thriller in double overtime. ARC is fresh off of a 1-point overtime win at Butte College.
The Beavers got things started early with a 50-yard touchdown run by running back Elias Brown on the opening drive.
Penalty flags were flying early and often for both teams; this quickly became a theme for the remainder of the game. ARC tallied 12 penalties for 121-yards. Sierra racked up 7 penalties for 76-yards.
The Beavers defensive back Antonio Williams and linebacker Trevaun Robinson both got ejected for targeting penalties, making ARC show off the depth on defense.
Sierra opened up the scoring in the second quarter with a touchdown run, tying the score 7-7. This is all they would get for the remainder of the half.
ARC answered back with two scores. A quick 21-yard rushing touchdown by running back Terquaverlis Wallace to break the tie, but a botched snap on the point after attempt kept the score 13-7. Brown followed up with a 10 yard touchdown, his second of the game, making it 20-7.
The Beavers scored again on a 10-yard touchdown run by Brown. A Sierra fumble recovered by defensive lineman Collin Bray gave the ball right back to ARC, but they were unable to convert as quarterback Jett Harris threw an Interception. The Wolverines were unable to score before the half came to a close.
Sierra came out strong in the second half with an opening drive touchdown, making the score 20-14.
ARC responded when Brown scored his third touchdown of the game, this time from 3-yards out. A missed extra point kept the score at 26-14.
The Wolverines refused to go away; they were able to find the end zone, but a failed two point conversion kept the Beavers lead at six.
Sierra’s defense stepped up big and forced a punt, giving its offense the ball right back with a chance at the lead. An efficient drive resulting in a touchdown, giving Sierra a narrow one point lead.
From this point on, it was back and forth, with both teams trading scores. The Beavers answered back when Brown ran it in again giving his team a 34-27 lead, ending the third quarter.
Both teams started the fourth quarter flat offensively, trading punts back and forth. Late in the quarter, SC had possession and was in need of a score to try and push for overtime. ARC came up with a big stop, a sack by linebacker Diallo Washington that forced a Sierra punt. A kick catch interference penalty on Sierra gave the Beavers great field position to start the drive at midfield and try to run the clock down.
A strong defensive showing and a couple penalties on ARC stalled the drive. Sierra got the ball back and ended the scoring drought with a touchdown to tie it at 34-34.
The Beavers ran the clock out and took the game into overtime. The Beavers got the ball first, where Brown rushed in one more touchdown, giving ARC a 41-34 lead. Brown finished the game with 37 carries, 271-yards, and five touchdowns.
ARC’s defense would win with a stop, but SC stayed strong late, punching it in and tying the game once more, sending the game into a second overtime.
The Beavers came up with a defensive stand, and gave its offense the ball back to win the game. The offense did just enough, taking the ball to the Wolverine one yard line. This set kicker Cameron Smith up with a 18-yard game winning field goal to give ARC the 44-41 rivalry win.
“Our football team and the depth of our football with losing two individuals to targeting calls, a bunch of guys that are injured and have been out, we kinda relied on our depth to get this thing done,” said Jon Osterhout, ARC head coach following the double overtime win.
ARC improves their record to 5-3 on the season, winning four straight after a shaky start earlier in the season.
“[The] first couple games were kinda rocky but, you know we really came together and it’s only up from here,” said Diallo Washington, linebacker for the Beavers.
The Beavers have two games remaining, where they will travel to Santa Rosa, Taking on Santa Rosa Junior College on Nov. 9. Then it’s back home on Nov. 16 to close out the season against Feather River.
