REEDLEY, Calif. — San José City College fought hard but couldn't overcome Reedley's efficient passing attack and grinding ball control, falling 21–7 on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference matchup at Reedley College Stadium.

The loss drops the Jaguars to 0–3 on the season, while the Tigers improved to 2–2 behind the steady hand of quarterback Jose Soriano, who threw three touchdown passes and racked up 269 yards through the air.

Slow start turns into defensive battle

Neither team scored in the opening quarter as both defenses held their ground. Reedley broke the stalemate early in the second quarter, stringing together a 10-play, 93-yard drive capped by a 13-yard scoring strike from Soriano to Tim Saunders at the 13:27 mark. Kicker Christian Haney added the extra point to make it 7–0.

San José's offense struggled to find a rhythm in the first half. Quarterback Cedeno Chavez completed just 16 of 40 attempts for 101 yards and was intercepted twice. Despite those struggles, the Jaguars' defense kept the game within reach, holding Reedley to one score through two quarters.

A spark from the defense

The Jaguars evened the contest midway through the third quarter thanks to opportunism on defense. After forcing a fumble near the Reedley goal line, San José pounced on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Freshman kicker Jineen Laimon converted the extra point, tying the game at 7–7 with 9:33 left in the period.

It was a momentum-swinging moment and another milestone for Laimon, who earlier this month became the first woman to score in SJCC football history.

But Reedley answered quickly. Just five minutes later, Soriano hit Jacob Saldate on a deep route for a 75-yard touchdown, silencing the Jaguars' sideline and restoring a 14–7 Tigers advantage.

Tigers seal it with clock control

Reedley put the game away in the fourth quarter with a marathon drive that showcased both Soriano's poise and the Tigers' balanced offense. The 12-play, 62-yard march consumed over 11 minutes of clock and ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Babb.

That score made it 21–7 with 2:39 left, and San José could not mount a response. The Tigers' ability to control the ball — 40 minutes of possession to SJCC's 17 — wore down the Jaguars defense and kept Chavez and the offense off the field.

Statistical leaders

Chavez led the Jaguars in both passing and rushing, throwing for 101 yards and running 14 times for 53 yards. Nathaniel Garcia added 43 yards on the ground, while Anderson Riley caught five passes for 34 yards.

Soriano was the difference-maker for Reedley, completing 16 of 26 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Saldate's lone catch went for 75 yards and a score, while Donavan Smith chipped in 65 yards on four receptions. On the ground, Babb ran 11 times for 58 yards and also added a receiving touchdown.

The Tigers outgained San José 424–219 in total offense, averaging seven yards per play compared to the Jaguars' 3.1.

Bright spots for San José

Despite the setback, the Jaguars had several strong individual efforts on defense. Walter "Bear" Watkins broke up two passes, while Tevita Pekipaki and Isaiah Barrett each recorded tackles for loss. The team forced two fumbles, recovering both, including the one that resulted in San José's only touchdown.

Special teams also showed flashes, with Riley averaging 19 yards on kickoff returns and freshman punter Preston Conrad pinning Reedley inside its own 20 on six of his nine punts.

Looking ahead

The Jaguars' young roster has endured a tough early stretch, including road contests against Santa Rosa, Sequoias, and now Reedley. Head coach and staff continue to stress growth and resilience as the program rebuilds.

The Jaguars return to Jaguar Stadium on Friday, Oct. 11, to face rival City College of San Francisco in a special Latinx Heritage Night matchup. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.