Modesto JC travels to face nation’s top-ranked community college football team

Even before he walked off the Modesto Junior College Stadium turf last Saturday night, first-year head coach Rusty Stivers already addressed what’s ahead.

“I told the guys that the secret is out. We’re pretty good,” he told his team minutes after the Pirates’ resounding 41-10 upset win over American River. “But it’s just one game, and we start all over again tomorrow.”

MJC prepares for College of San Mateo, ranked No. 1 in the nation by JCFootball.com/JC Grid-Wire. The Pirates’ 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday at CSM’s hilltop stadium will provide more clues about the Pirates in 2015.

“San Mateo is the template on what we’re shooting for,” Stivers said. “The way they transfer their athletes to four-year schools, just the way they do everything, is our model.”

The Bulldogs, convincing 35-6 winners last week at Siskiyous, present the only triple option attack Modesto will see this season. The final scores of the MJC-San Mateo games the last three years, all Pirate losses, say a lot: 51-26 last year, 49-32 in 2013 and 60-35 in 2012.

Scoring against San Mateo has proven to be doable. Stopping the Bulldogs is another thing.

“They run a triple option similar to the military institution teams, which do it as an equalizer against more talented programs. San Mateo runs it with outstanding talent. If you stop something, they’re very good with their contingency plan. They go quickly to the next step.”

One of Stivers’ major goals this season was to develop a defense that plays at the same tempo (read: frenetic) as the MJC offense. The first results were more than favorable. The MJC defense forced five turnovers against American River – four on interceptions – and scored two touchdowns.

Modesto’s speed on defense surprised the Beavers during the first half. Safeties Tyler Johnson (eight tackles) and Herman Harris aggressively charged forward to force the action.

Harris, the Pirates’ Defensive Player of the Game, recorded the defender’s Triple Crown: A strip-sack, recovery and 20-yard return for a touchdown. Inside linebacker Justin Van Fleet stayed busy with 13 tackles and a sack.

“You could see our speed to the ball,” Stivers said. “I thought our defense was faster than their offense.”

MJC’s offense also enjoyed a fast start and didn’t suffer a turnover, though American River fought on nearly equal terms. The Pirates lack the explosive threat they enjoyed the last two seasons with record-setting running back Anthony Cota.

Quarterback Trey Cooper orchestrates an attack that focuses on moving the chains and gaining yards in smaller chunks. Cooper and company will be challenged Saturday. Siskiyous managed only 142 yards last week against San Mateo.

Beating the state’s No. 4-ranked team earned Modesto some recognition. Then again, early-season rankings of community college teams tend to be an educated guess.

San Mateo, for example, is ranked No. 3 in the state in the coaches poll but No. 1 in the nation. Modesto, unranked in the preseason, has risen to 11th among the state’s 69 teams and 23rd nationally.

“Whomever is doing the ranking must be picking them out of the hat,” Stivers said. “I’ve learned not to pay much attention to rankings early in the season.”

Notes – Saturday’s game will be live-streamed by the Bay Area Online Sports Network, which did the Butte-Chabot game last week. Watch at baosn.tv. It will be the first of four live-streamed MJC games this season. ... Running back Andre Edwards, who missed the second half last week due to an Achilles injury, could play Saturday. If not, Aden Ruiz (93 rushing yards, 1 TD last week) or Ike Arvie will replace him. Another game-time decision is outside linebacker Drew Howey (shoulder).

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Modesto JC travels to face nation’s top-ranked community college football team."