SRJC football team's bowl game delayed 2 weeks

Poor air quality throughout the region has forced the Santa Rosa Junior College football team to reschedule its bowl game in Sacramento.

Originally set to play at 1 p.m. Saturday, SRJC (5-4, 1-3 Bay 6) will now play in two weeks.

The team will face American River College in the Gridiron Classic Bowl at 1 p.m. on Dec. 1.

The Beavers will face the Bear Cubs after completing a successful regular season that saw them go 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the NorCal conference.

“They’re a good team that’s pretty balanced on offense with a good defense,” Santa Rosa head coach Lenny Wagner said. “We’re fired up and with the few days, we’ll try to get out and practice with the air permitting. Our guys want to go win the game and finish off the season the right way.”

Even with just one game remaining in the season, SRJC coaches and players still have goals they want to accomplish. Like keeping wide receiver Lucas Triplett atop the state’s receiving-yards list.

“We want to go in there and get Triplett the ball and keep him at No. 1 in the state,” Wagner said.

Unhealthy air quality due to the Camp fire in Butte County originally forced SRJC to cancel last weekend’s final regular-season game against Diablo Valley College.

“We were on the bus to the game when we found out it was canceled. It was really mixed emotions, because first there was disappointment we weren’t playing the game and our season was over. Then it was panic that we might lose our bowl game,” Wagner said.

“Not being able to practice with the fires, and presented with a lot of challenges last year, to get into a bowl game this year was awesome,” he said.