California routs Fort Cherry in ‘redemption’ game
Fort Cherry’s Ryhan Culberson catches a pass for a first-half first down Friday night in front of California’s Colin Phillips and Austin Grillo.
California’s Cochise Ryan carries the ball during the first half Friday night against Fort Cherry.
California’s Zion Aldrich is tackled Friday night against Fort Cherry.
California quarterback Colin Phillips carries the ball Friday night against Fort Cherry.
Fort Cherry’s Noah Babirad catches a pass Friday night against California.
CALIFORNIA – California was waiting for this game for 364 days.
The Trojans, a team that returned the majority of its starters from last season, were eager for revenge.
Rather than ignoring last season’s 26-20 loss to Fort Cherry, California (1-0, 2-0) head coach Darrin Dillow virtually obsessed over it. He analyzed the game film three times in the past week, watching his offense let the clock run out in the fourth quarter with a chance to score and win the game.
“I was sick to my stomach all three times,” Dillow said.
The Trojans got their revenge and more Friday night, winning 49-0 on the back of 263-pound junior running back Jelani Stafford, who rushed for four touchdowns.
“This game was really a redemption game,” Stafford said.
In the Tri-County South Conference matchup, the Trojans started as if they had a message to prove to Fort Cherry and the rest of the league. The Trojans ran the ball with ease, using five different ball carriers in its triple-option offense.
“We’ve got a lot of backs; we’ve got a lot of depth this year,” Dillow said. “With the triple option that we’re running, you never know who’s going to get it.”
The 59-yard drive was capped by a one-yard rush by Stafford to give the Trojans a 6-0 lead.
Struggling to get anything going on offense, Fort Cherry (0-1, 0-1) caught a break when a Trojans ball carrier fumbled and senior lineman Jacob Baird recovered it. The Rangers couldn’t capitalize on California’s mistake, though, turning the ball right back to the Trojans.
Cochise Ryan intercepted an errant Fort Cherry pass, and Dillow decided to continue giving him the ball on the ensuing drive. Ryan ran for 40 yards on four carries to put the Trojans in scoring territory, getting another Stafford goal-line touchdown, this one from two yards.
California led 13-0 after the first half but outgained Fort Cherry 163-20. The Rangers couldn’t gain any momentum despite having one of the best players in the Tri-County South, Ryhan Culberson, who passed for 763 yards and ran for 1,128 last season.
Culberson played mostly quarterback against Cal but also played some wide receiver, catching a 27-yard pass. Late in the first half, though, he took a hard hit to his shoulder and head on a kickoff return and missed the rest of the game.
Fort Cherry head coach Jim Shiel said his status is unknown, but that it was “mostly soreness.”
“We weren’t going to take a chance with him,” Shiel said. “It’s a long season.”
Without Culberson, the second half was a much different game. Fort Cherry’s offense was stalled and its defense overwhelmed by California’s electric offense.
“Ryhan is a special athlete,” Shiel said. “But when he goes down, we’re average at best.”
Fort Cherry totaled minus-47 yards in the second half, bringing its game total to minus-27. Shiel said, aside from Culberson’s injury, the putrid offensive performance is due to the Rangers losing their other top four skill-position players from last season.
“Ryhan had such a good year last year because we had so many other weapons,” he said. “Right now, we’ve got to find some weapons.”
The Trojans only ran nine offensive plays – five going for touchdowns – in the second half.
Senior Zion Aldrich started the second-half scoring with a 7-yard touchdown to give California a 20-0 lead. Two Stafford touchdowns of 16 and 17 yards were split by a 27-yard dash from Ryan to put the Trojans ahead 42-0. Junior Austin Grillo capped the scoring with a 39-yard sprint.
California totaled 333 rushing yards on 37 carries without any of its six rushers eclipsing 100 yards. Stafford led the way with 85 yards on 11 carries. Ryan rushed for 83.
“Jalani (is a) great back,” Dillow said. “He’s a load to take down. When he’s running downfield at you, it’s a completely different game.”
“Cochise is a great young, great athlete,” he said. “When he gets hot, he gets really hot. He’s an unbelievable talent, and he works really hard.”
Along with rushing for 64 yards as the quarterback, Colin Phillips also intercepted a pass in the third quarter.