Coming off their bye week, the American River College football team led by quarterback Mike Hicks and his five touchdowns, beat division opponent San Joaquin Delta College 50-27 to remain undefeated at 6-0.

“We had a slow start, but we picked it up in the second quarter,” Hicks said.

The first Valley Conference matchup of the season saw Hicks throw two touchdowns, and rush one to help put his team up 21-7 at the end of the first half.

The first score of the game came by way of a 21 play, 98-yard drive by the Mustangs, it lasted 8:10 and took up most of the first quarter.

ARC responded back with 37 unanswered points.

“We got crucial turnovers … we were able to stop them in key moments, and our special teams played their butts off today,” defensive lineman Sione Umufuke said.

ARC wide receiver Tyler Trosin hauled in three touchdown receptions in the game adding to his team lead and giving him 14 all-purpose touchdowns for the season.

Even though the team won, the defense felt they could have played better at times.

“We have a stingy defense and 27 points is a lot … we’ve got to fix things on Monday,” defensive lineman Karmah Yates said.

The 27 points scored against the ARC defense is the most that they have given up to any opponent this season.  One of the touchdowns against the Beavers came against the offense when an interception, by Jonathan Kodama was run back 24-yards for a touchdown.

The touchdown came 13 seconds after a previous SJDC score put the game within reach at 37-21.

“You can’t win a game undisciplined, fortunately we won this game today,” Umufuke said.  “We are the number one defense in the state; we sure gave up a lot today.”

ARC running back Drake Tofi had a pair of touchdowns, one receiving and the other on a 45-yard run that put the game away.

“In the Valley Conference you have to play 60 minutes,” head coach Jerry Haflich said.  “I didn’t like the energy, or the lack thereof.”

The next game for the undefeated ARC football team is Fresno City College on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m.