MJC football 3-peats as conference champions, will play in NorCal playoffs
The Modesto Junior College football team’s only way into the NorCal playoffs this season was through a conference title. After going 2-3 in their first five games, the Pirates rebounded, entering their final regular season game 6-3.
They would not have received an at-large bid into the highly coveted postseason tournament.
The team standing in the way of MJC and a state playoff berth was Fresno City College. The Rams were just as hungry as the Pirates, needing a conference title to also extend the season. Both teams entered the matchup Saturday, Nov. 11, riding four-game winning streaks with a 4-0 Valley Conference record. A strong defensive effort and balanced offensive attack helped MJC pull out a 39-29 win.
“The goal is every year is to win the conference championship and we have seemingly battled against Fresno every year for the conference championship,” MJC coach Rusty Stivers said. “It was exciting. It’s fun to be in that position where the last game of the year means something.”
The win guarantees them a game in the state playoffs, the biggest junior college postseason tournament in California. The Pirates are ranked No. 9 in the state according to the JC Athletic Bureau’s final regular season poll and qualified with state No. 3 San Mateo, No. 4 American River and No. 5 City College of San Francisco.
This year’s team, like many in the past, is made up of homegrown talent. Downey, Davis, Central Catholic, East Union, Tracy and Manteca are just a few local schools well-represented on the Pirates’ roster.
“When you look at our roster … they’re playing at a high level with all guys from our recruiting area, just from close proximity to the junior college,” Stivers said.
The MJC defense propelled the team to victory against Fresno on Nov. 11.
Kainoa Ontai and Garren Genilla came away with pick-sixes, Fayzon Allen intercepted another pass and Max Rascon recovered a fumble forced by Trey Moreland. Offensively, Kimoni Stanley rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, Lyon Colon rushed for 74 yards and a score, Joey Stout caught a touchdown pass and Joseph Easterwood finished with a team high 67 receiving yards.
MJC jumped out to a 14-0 lead but Fresno tied the game midway through the second quarter. The Pirates answered with 18 straight points to open up a lead that Fresno could not overcome.
The win gave the Pirates their third consecutive conference title, something Stivers said has not been done since the 1940s. The sophomores earned back-to-back Valley Conference championships.
The Pirates rebounded this season from a three-game losing streak, going 5-0 in conference play, earning a road matchup with San Mateo in the first round of the CCCAA Northern California Playoff Semifinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. Saturday.
“We were banged up those last few games in the preseason,” Stivers said. “So hopefully we’re a little bit more battle tested and a little stronger in all positions going into the playoffs.”
The Pirates’ last win in the NorCal playoffs was in 2019. They beat American River College in the NorCal semifinals, 35-28 to advance to the regional championship, which they lost 41-0 to San Mateo.
The history between San Mateo and Modesto is there. At some point along their Northern California playoff journey, the Pirates have had to face the Bulldogs and they have added them to their non-conference schedule in recent years as well.
Last season, the Pirates and Bulldogs faced off twice. In the first matchup, MJC lost several starters, including quarterback Luke Weaver. After turning around their season, the two sides played in the first round of the NorCal playoffs, a matchup San Mateo won 30-0. The score was 10-0 at halftime, but San Mateo exploded for 20 second-half points.
In their nonconference matchup this season, MJC took a 14-7 lead into halftime, but a 21-point Bulldogs fourth quarter was too much for MJC to overcome.
“I think we did a good job on defense (last season) and held them until you keep defending, and defending, and defending and it’s tough,” Stivers said. “We feel like we’re in a better position to play complementary football down to the end. So we’re going to watch the film from the first time we played them … and hopefully we can get it going on offense in the second half.”
This story was originally published November 21, 2023 at 10:50 AM.
