RC routs Orestimba to set up showdown for TVL title

Since the spring, the Ripon Christian High football program had a goal of playing for the Trans-Valley League crown. That goal will take place next week in Sonora, as the Knights did their part to reach the title game by blowing out Orestimba Friday, 57-0. “The best we can do is get a share of the title,” said RC coach Phil Grams of the upcoming clash with the unbeaten Wildcats (5-0 TVL, 9-0 overall). The Knights (4-1, 8-1) and Orestimba (0-5, 2-7) were two teams that entered TVL play trending in opposite directions. RC started off slow but then hit on all cylinders in the second quarter. “It was Senior Night,” said Grams as part of that delay. The Knights got an unusual turnover when a Warriors pass bounced off the helmet of a receiver and into the hands of defender Blake Stuit for an interception. It didn’t take long from there for quarterback Mason Tameling to connect with Daniel Lambdin, who turn the short pass into a 27-yard touchdown. RC fumbled the ball on its next possession but avoided further damage. The Knights got the ball back and drove the distance with Lushen Sanders scoring the first of his two touchdowns to open the second quarter. That score also opened a scoring floodgate for RC’s 42-point barrage during that span leading into halftime. Amos Cady soon got untracked, breaking loose for a 40-yard TD run and upping the RC lead, 21-0. Cady was on the board again moments later, hauling in a 31-yard toss from Tameling, who connected on three of his four passes with no interceptions and two touchdowns. Cady also racked up 76 rushing yards on seven carries. The RC defense got into the act as Chase Bunnell scooped up a fumble and dashed 22 yards to give his team a 35-0 advantage. The Knights closed out the quarter with scoring runs by Stuit and Sanders of 21 and 5, respectively. With RC lead big at the intermission, 49-0, Orestimba chose not to go with the running clock to open the second half. For extra measures, Jackson Howell took advantage of the moment by hauling a 29-yard scoring strike from quarter Josiah Van Vliet, who was 3 for 3 in passing for 87 yards. RC closed out the scoring on a safety as Myles Pollard and Tom Giulian converged on the quarterback in the end zone.