SANTA ROSA — On the night of the Almond Bowl, a rare Friday for community college football, Pleasant Valley High School alumnus Luke Alloway caught three touchdowns for Butte College in the Roadrunners’ 49-14 victory at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Quarterback Marcus Beamon tied a school record for passing touchdowns in a game (set by Kyle Lindquist in 2019) with seven — completing 14-of-19 passes for 172 yards, the seven TDs and one interception.
“We went a little more focus on the pass game tonight based on what we saw on film and where we thought we could have an advantage,” said Butte College head coach Robby Snelling. “Marcus has been playing really well all season and making good decisions. Coach Hayes did a great job calling the game and setting Marcus up, and the guys around him made plays. The o-line did an unbelievable job giving him time, and that was a huge part of it. He also did a really good job extending plays and bought time, and those guys got open.”
The win increases Butte’s record to 6-0 and 1-0 in NorCal Conference play, as the Roadrunners look to improve on their No. 2 ranking in the California Community College Athletic Association rankings. The most recent rankings were released Oct. 7, and the Roadrunners trail only Mt. San Antonio. Rankings are released every other week.
As they have all season long, the Roadrunners used a fast start to gain the momentum, leading 21-7 after the first quarter. They continued that momentum as the game went on, leading 33-14 at halftime and 49-14 after the third quarter.
The Roadrunners’ opening drive began with a 69-yard kickoff return from Zach Valcarcel, starting the Roadrunners’ offense at the Santa Rosa 8-yard line. The Roadrunners needed just three plays, one of which was a 3-yard loss, before Beamon completed a 9-yard pass to Alloway just 1 minute and 21 seconds into the game.
Beamon and the tight end Alloway connected once more with 9:04 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard passing TD to increase the Roadrunners’ lead to 14-0. The two TDs by Alloway were his first collegiate TDs since coming to Butte from PV.
After a rushing TD by Santa Rosa’s Zion Williams, Beamon connected with wide receiver Mikel Henderson for a 28-yard passing TD. It was the first collegiate TD for the freshman Henderson.
With 6:37 left in the second quarter Beamon threw a 23-yard TD pass to tight end Elias Counihan for his second TD of the season, before Beamon threw for his fifth TD of the first half on a 13-yard pass to tight end Caden Simmons.
The Roadrunners’ defense had a slight mishap just before halftime, when Santa Rosa quarterback Dominic Feliciano completed a 58-yard pass to Jevon Scott with 1:30 left in the second quarter to trim the Roadrunners’ lead to 33-14. However, after the score, the Roadrunners’ defense would not allow another point.
After a turnover on downs by the Bear Cubs on their first drive of the second half, the Roadrunners needed just two plays to score their fifth TD of the game. Beamon threw a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Brandon Smith with 11:48 left in the third quarter, the eighth TD of the season for Smith and sixth in the last three games.
The Roadrunners defense then did its job. Butte linebacker Austin Young sacked Feliciano in the Bear Cubs’ end zone for a safety, giving the Roadrunners a 42-14 lead with 11:36 left in the third quarter.
With 9:27 left in the third, Beamon and Alloway connected once more, this time on a 10-yard pass to increase the Roadrunners’ lead to 49-14.
Alloway finished with three catches for 34 yards and three TDs, and Beamon completed passes to eight different receivers.
On defense ,Young led the way for the Roadrunners with nine tackles (three for loss), two sacks and a safety. As a whole, Butte’s defense finished with five sacks. Devin Jackson had one interception.
It was the sixth straight game that the Roadrunners have allowed fewer than 20 points.
“Defense was great again, also throughout the year,” Snelling said. “We had high pressure all night, which equates to big plays.”
Snelling said all season that he has seen bright spots throughout games, but Friday night’s game was the most complete game of the season for the Roadrunners.
Butte now prepares for its home game against American River at 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at Cowan Stadium. The Beavers currently hold a record of 2-3, and open NCC play at 1 p.m. Saturday at home against Shasta.