Chaffey’s Strong Start Fades as Riverside Rallies in Fourth Quarter

The Chaffey College football team put together one of its most competitive performances of the season but came up short in a 41-27 defeat to Riverside City College on Thursday night at Grigsby Field. The Panthers produced several explosive plays and briefly held the lead in the second half before the Tigers rallied late to clinch the win.

Riverside opened the scoring with a field goal on its first drive before Chaffey responded with an efficient 75-yard series capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Francisco Villalbazo to Nehemiah Harrison. The Tigers countered with a 35-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter to retake the lead at 10-7.

After falling behind 17-7 midway through the second quarter, the Panthers closed the half strong. Quarterback Evan Powell led a nine-play, 77-yard drive, connecting with Harrison again for a 22-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left to cut the deficit to 20-14 at halftime.

Chaffey carried that momentum into the third quarter, recovering an onside kick to open the half. Powell marched the offense downfield and found Harrison for his third touchdown of the night, an 8-yard strike that tied the game 20-20. Moments later, Powell connected with Justin Benson on a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 27-20 lead. Riverside responded with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a pair of turnovers to pull away.

Powell finished with 145 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Villalbazo added 58 yards and one touchdown. Harrison led all receivers with three touchdown receptions and 46 total yards, and Benson contributed 62 yards and a score. Hakim Halliburton rushed for 36 yards on nine carries.

Defensively, Sivaj Dejurnett-Simmons recorded a sack, while Trayshawn Walker and Donovan Brown combined for multiple tackles for loss. Isaiah Moreno and Taylor Chapple-Love lead the front seven, limiting Riverside's rushing attack for much of the night.

With the loss, Chaffey moves to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in National Division Southern Conference play. The Panthers will return home on Saturday, October 18, to host Mt. San Jacinto College at 6:00 p.m. Tailgate festivities will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Sports Center.