By Rick Martin

MOUNT SHASTA - The Mt. Shasta Bears were hoping Friday’s wet and windy weather would slow down the high-powered Rio Vista Rams. Well, it did slow them down—just not enough.

The undefeated and top-ranked Rams took advantage of every opportunity Friday and pasted the Bears 37-6. Royce Autry accounted for Mt. Shasta’s lone score with a 90-yard kickoff return.

On this blustery evening, the Rams started taking advantage of opportunities quickly. Faced with a fourth-and-1 on their opening possession, Rio Vista had a choice: punt into a 35mph headwind and risk having the ball blow back over their heads, or go for it at their own 31-yard-line. They lined up to go for it, but never snapped the ball. Instead, the Bears jumped offside, giving Rio Vista a first down at the 36.

On the very next play, senior rusher Tyler Wilcox took the hand off on an end around, beat the Bear defenders to the sideline and then outran everyone to the end zone for a 66-yard score and a 6-0 lead.

Mt. Shasta responded with a nice looking drive deep into Ram territory, alternating strong runs inside from Miquel Rodriquez and Mark Maumasi with quick bursts outside by Autry. But Rio Vista’s defense set the tone for the game by consistently denying the Bears any big gainers, showing they were just as quick as Mt. Shasta in the open field. The Bear drive stalled inside the Ram 40, and the teams then traded possessions to close out the quarter, still separated by only six points.

But in the second quarter, Rio Vista would break it open, with a little help. The drive began with QB Kevin Kistner gaining 20 yards on a keeper. At the end of the run, a teammate was called for an illegal block in the back. Rather than negating the play, the penalty was assessed from the spot of the foul, and the down was replayed.

The end result? Despite committing a penalty, the Rams were rewarded with a first-and-one, just shy of midfield. And they wouldn’t miss the opportunity. After Wilcox and Kistner ran end-arounds for another first down, they began working the middle with big fullback Marquise Williams. From the Bear 34, he finally found the hole he was looking for, rumbling to the 25, then breaking two tackles en route to the end zone, and a 12-0 lead.

On the next series, the Bears would be faced with a three-and-out, but - like Rio Vista in the first quarter - were faced with kicking into the headwind. And like Rio Vista, the Bears would elect to go for it from their own 33. But the fourth- and-4 came up short, and the Rams took over on downs.

Again, they wouldn’t miss the opportunity. It took just four plays for Williams to find the end zone again, this time from 11 yards out, making the score 18-0.

Autry took the ensuing kickoff on a bounce, dropped it at the 10 and had to retrieve it with his back to the charging special teamers. But he held on to the ball, gave a couple of would-be tacklers the slip at the 20 and found the sideline for a 90-yard score and the Bears’ first points. It was then Mt. Shasta’s turn to kickoff, and Steven Ballard’s kick cut through the wind and eventually bounced down to the 10 where the Rams had to quickly cover it up. A couple of big plays, however, got them out of the danger zone, and across midfield. Kistner then went to the air for one of the few times in the game, and found Wilcox streaking down the sideline. Wilcox evaded a defender and looked like he might go in for the score, but two Bear defenders hit him from behind inside the 20, jarring the ball loose. It rolled down to the 10 where Maumasi recovered it and gave the Bears another possession with just under four minutes left in the half.

Mt. Shasta couldn’t move the ball, however, and couldn’t use up enough clock to end the half. Facing a third-and-long, QB Steven Reed went to the air, but Kody Bowers stepped in front of intended receiver Klayton Davis, picked the ball off and ran untouched for a 24-yard score that made it 24-6 with 1:24 left in the half.

The Rams had one more chance, as the Bears failed to move the ball and failed to burn the clock. They finally elected to punt into the wind, but the snap was bad, and Autry could only fall on the ball at his own 35 with 40 seconds remaining. Rio Vista drove to the Bear 15, but a last ditch pass into the end zone was broken up by Autry, denying the Rams another score.

Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter, but the Rams would open the door when opportunity knocked again in the fourth. Mt. Shasta fumbled at the Ram 45-yard-line, and two plays later Wilcox would run the end around again, this time scampering 49-yards for his second TD, and a 30-6 advantage. On their next possession, the Rams would be unstoppable, ripping off big chunks of yardage to get into scoring position again. Bowers would finish the drive with a 9-yard-run, and the Rams would then convert the game’s only successful extra point to create the final margin.

Rio Vista (6-0, 2-0 Sacramento Valley League)) has outscored the opposition 277-74 on the season, and has been even more dominant the last three weeks, with a 150-20 margin. Their 37 points Friday night was their second lowest total of the season, bested only by the 36 they scored in their opener. They host Trinity next week.

Mt. Shasta (2-4, 1-1) won’t be home again until their homecoming on Halloween night. They play next week at winless Pierce, have a bye week, and then play on the road at powerful Willows. They close the season with home match ups against Durham for homecoming, and Trinity in the regular season finale.