The Yuba College 49er football team was expected to make some noise in the Mid-Empire Conference this season, but the 49ers started the 2002 football season in a bad way. The 49ers opened the season by losing its first six games, which came as a surprise to many people. The 49ers were primed and ready to have a good year and possibly a bowl game appearance. Most of last year’s good defensive unit was returning for another season, and Marc Rogers was entering his sophomore season and his second year as the Yuba quarterback.
The loss of running back John West to the University of Hawaii this off-season turned out to be more devastating than anyone could imagine. The 49ers had running backs Roderick Warren and Will Bennett to take over for West. But Bennett injured his leg early in the season, and Warren started the season very slowly.
The 49ers currently have a record of 2-7 and finished 2-2 in conference play. Although the 49ers still have one game remaining at Santa Rosa, the season is all but finished. The 49ers are likely out of contention for any bowl games, and the season has pretty much been a disappointment.
The 2002 season didn’t start out the way that the 49ers had planned. In the first game of the season, the 49ers lost at home to Feather River College. Yuba led 16-0 early in that game and it looked like the 49ers were off to the hot start they hoped for. But Feather River would shutout Yuba the rest of the game. Yuba went on to lose that game and start the season 0-1.
Later in the year, the 49ers would finally play up to their potential and win the first game of the season. In a close game at home, the 49ers beat rival American River College 33-22. With Yuba ahead, ARC kicker Brian Kimsey booted a 47-yard field goal to give ARC the lead. Yuba kicker Jose Tiznado then matched that kick with a 50-yard field goal of his own. The 49ers ended their losing streak and improved to 1-6. This past weekend the 49ers hosted College of the Siskiyous. Yuba won the game 24-17 thanks to some great running by Roderick Warren and a career game from quarterback Marc Rogers. “He made great decisions. He had a great game,” coach Ted Hoal said about Rogers’ performance.
Rogers threw for 139 yards while completing seven of thirteen pass attempts. “It’s too bad it’s the second to last game of the season,” said Rogers of his good game. On the game winning drive, the quarterback completed all three pass attempts, including a touchdown, and ran four times for 20 yards.
While the game didn’t have much of an impact on the playoff situation, the 49ers built some good momentum for the last game, and for next season. Yuba still has one game remaining in its schedule against Santa Rosa. They have a great chance to win that game and close out the season on a positive note
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