Ending on a high note: MJC coach puts season into perspective after Grizzly Bowl win
The Modesto Junior College football team didn’t make it to the state playoffs, but that doesn’t mean this year’s season wasn’t a success.
The Pirates (8-3) finished the regular season as Valley League co-champions, hosted the Grizzly Bowl —which, according to head coach Rusty Stivers, is the highest bowl game in Northern California — and finished with the most all-league player selections in school history (13).
They could have earned a playoff berth. MJC went into its Week 9 with Fresno City College sitting on a 5-2 record. A win against the Rams would have all but secured first place, but the Pirates had two costly turnovers and fell, 22-16.
Stivers says he wished the team could have made the playoffs but the loss to Fresno kept them engaged, helping the Pirates end their season with a win over Diablo Valley College, 36-14 in the Grizzly Bowl.
“We’re trying to win out” said defensive back D’Angelo Bellamy (Central Catholic) immediately after the loss to Fresno City. “We just gotta win out and keep playing.”
Said Stivers on how he looks back on that matchup: “The great thing is from that (Fresno City) game, we finished strong and won all of our games ... and we did it all with local guys.”
The Pirates are expecting to be listed among the state’s top 10 junior college teams when the final CCCAA rankings come out early next week.
“Those are all the little things you got to look for that are feathers in the cap that we’re going in the right direction.” Stivers said.
Bellamy and the Pirates’ defense did their part in the Grizzly Bowl win, forcing six turnovers.
Zelmar Vedder (East Union), Danny Hernandez (Ripon), Cam Snow (Oakdale) and Bellamy each came up with interceptions in the blowout victory.
They allowed 14 points in the first half on a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a two-yard run in the second.
They started the second half forcing turnovers on three of the Vikings’ first four possessions.
Former Turlock star Anthony Frias, Manteca product Gino Campiotti and Atwater graduate Daruis Hyde scored on rushing touchdowns. Frias led the team with 20 carries for 86 yards and two scores. Campiotti and Hyde added one touchdown apiece.
Campiotti also connected with Dalton Durossette (Central Catholic) for a five-yard touchdown to close out the Pirates’ scoring.
Holden Baldwin was named the game’s Offensive MVP after catching three passes for 52 yards. Bellamy finished with five tackles and one interception and earned Defensive MVP honors.
This story was originally published December 5, 2021 at 11:43 AM.
