JC football: Fresno City welcomes Sierra for home opener

Fresno City College rolled in its 2015 football season opener, but the team expects tougher times ahead.

Up next for the Rams is Sierra College at 7 p.m. Saturday for the home opener at Ratcliffe Stadium.

The Wolverines are coming off a 25-24 loss to visiting City College of San Francisco in which Sierra surrendered 16 fourth-quarter points, including the go-ahead score with 35 seconds remaining.

Fresno hosts San Francisco next Saturday in what is the Rams’ toughest annual nonconference rivalry, but their focus is on Sierra.

“Their defense is pretty fast and aggressive to the ball,” said Rams running back Briquez Alvies, who rushed 14 times for 79 yards a week ago in a 30-20 win at De Anza that was more lopsided than the score indicates. “We’re going to be expecting that and hope to get off the ball a lot faster and make holes.”

Fresno City’s defense smothered De Anza, finishing with three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Rams defensive coordinator/defensive-backs coach Rick Scheidt was encouraged, but wants consistency.

“They were physical,” Scheidt said of his defense. “Came up, hit (hard) and tackled, and we haven’t had that in awhile.”

Sierra will play two quarterbacks in Kyle Cota and Cole Brownholtz (whose father, Scott, played at Fresno City in the early 1990s). Scott Brownholtz is the son-in-law of former Rams coach John Volek.

“Really disciplined and well-organized team,” Scheidt said. “Well coached and we’re going to have to beat them in all facets. Just can’t let up on anything, and they don’t give up. They’re a team that keeps (coming at you) nonstop.”

Rams coach Tony Caviglia said despite Sierra’s loss last weekend, he still views it as a top-five team in Northern California. In this week’s state coaches poll, topped by Riverside and San Francisco at 1-2, the Rams are No. 13 and Sierra was among those outside the Top 25 that received votes.

“It’s going to be a tough test,” Caviglia said. “They have two quarterbacks playing pretty well and I think they’re going to throw it better than they have in the past; and defensively they’re stingy as ever. They’ve played great defense up there for many years.”

Rams to honor Howard

A moment of silence for Deondre Howard will be observed after the national anthem.

Howard, 21, a former Edison High School star who played football and baseball for the Rams last season but was to focus on the latter next spring, was shot and killed Aug. 29.

Stickers reading “D H 7,” in reference to Howard’s jersey number with the Fresno City football team, will be worn on players’ helmets and coaches’ hats.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "JC football: Fresno City welcomes Sierra for home opener."