Johnson finishes career at UNLV

Just a decade or so ago, Michael Johnson pitched four straight no-hitters in helping the Suisun American Little League All-Stars win a District 53 title.

On Saturday, Johnson, who quarterbacked Rodriguez High to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship in 2007, played his last football game for UNLV.

In the conclusion of another long season for Rebels (2-10), who fell 56-9 to TCU, Johnson caught two passes for 17 yards. On the year, Johnson was second on the team with 31 catches and 285 receiving yards, with one touchdown.

Another former Mustang was on the other side as Jason Verrett had two tackles and broke up a pass for the Horned Frogs (10-2), the Mountain West Conference champs who play Louisiana Tech in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 21.

Also bowl bound is Terrance Alston (Vanden, Solano) with Utah State, which edged New Mexico State 24-21. Alston had one assisted tackle for the Aggies (7-5), who play Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise on Dec. 17.

Oregon knew it was headed for a major bowl, but punched its ticket for the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2 against Wisconsin by blasting UCLA 49-31 in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game. Josh Kaddu (Vacaville) had six tackles, three solo, for the Ducks (10-2).

Missing out on a bowl was Hawaii, which finished the season 6-7 with a 41-20 loss to BYU. Brian Clay (Wood) saw action in the contest and played in eight games with one solo and one assisted tackle on the year.

The Pat Hill era came to an end at Fresno State as the coach was fired after the Bulldogs (4-9) ended the season with 35-28 loss to San Diego State. Marcel Jensen (Rodriguez) and Anthony Riggins (Rodriguez) didn’t see action. Jensen, a tight end, finished the year with two catches for 16 yards and a touchdowns, also finishing second on the team with three blocked kicks. Meanwhile, Riggins, a defensive back, had three tackles, two solo.

Wrestling

Clayton Jack (Vacaville) moved up in the national rankings to No. 4 after going 2-0 to claim the heavyweight title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The former Bulldog decisioned Atticus Disney of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 6-2 before pinning Peter Capone of Ohio State in 6 minutes, 51 seconds in the final to improve to 13-0.

Men’s basketball

Tim Tatum (Vacaville, Solano) poured in 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor and was 11 of 13 from the line and grabbed nine rebounds as Menlo topped Academy of Art 72-67. Malik Dunbar (Fairfield resident) added three points, seven boards and a steal for the Oaks (2-8).

Sacramento State (3-4) and John Dickson (Fairfield) traveled to Oklahoma to play the Sooners and fell 82-53. Dickson had nine points, two rebounds and two steals, contributing nine points, two rebounds and a block in an earlier 77-51 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Robbie Herndon (Fairfield resident) made his first start for San Francisco State in an 86-52 loss to Saint Mary’s in the first round of the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic at Moraga. Herndon went scoreless and had two rebounds for the Gators (2-7). He later had two points in a 71-68 win over Jacksonville State and two points and an assist in a 72-66 loss to Chico State before pouring in 13 points and grabbing five rebounds in an 82-65 loss to Cal State Stanislaus.

In Dickinson State’s 71-66 loss to Black Hills State, Tevin Hurd (Fairfield) had 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists, helping the Blue Hens (6-7) overcome a 36-29 halftime deficit. Older brother Jeff Hurd also played in the game. In a later 75-58 loss to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Tevin Hurd had four points and two rebounds against the Hardrockers.

Mike McChristian (Wood) got to return home as Idaho downed UC Davis 94-74 with the former Wildcat recording four points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists. In an earlier 73-66 loss to Eastern Washington, McChristian pulled down two rebounds.

Webster (1-5) earned its first victory of the year as Roman Robinson (Rodriguez) had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 73-52 thumping of Westminster. Later, the Gorloks fell 97-64 as Robinson scored 11 points, but struggled through a 4-of-16 shooting game.

Women’s basketball

San Diego State (5-3) had trouble with the Pac-12, falling 78-71 to UCLA and 65-50 to Washington State. Erimma Amarikwa (Vanden) scored eight points and Khristina Hunter (Rodriguez) had six points, five rebounds and two blocks against the Bruins. Amarikwa then had seven points and three rebounds against the Cougars, with Hunter grabbing three rebounds.

Waldorf (3-5) had a good week, going 2-1 with wins over Ashford (53-52) and William Penn (68-63) following a loss to Martin Luther (69-62). Goli Tavassoli (Vanden, Solano) had nine points on three 3-pointers against Martin Luther, was scoreless with three rebounds and four assists against Ashford and netted 12 points against William Penn. Allie Davison (Solano) had six points and four rebounds against Martin Luther, two points against Ashford.

Cal Maritime (4-6) had a tough time in the Arizona Christian tournament, falling 83-73 to the host team and 66-61 to Rocky Mountain. Bree Domingo (Solano) did all she could for the Keelhaulers, scoring 17 points and adding seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in the first game, getting 10 points, three steals and three assists in the second.

Renique Fitzpatrick (Armijo) and Holy Names went 0-3 in the Westminster College tournament, falling to the host school (94-60), Montana Tech (85-71) and Montana State-Northern (81-66). The former Indian had seven rebounds and four points before fouling out in the first game, scored a team-high 12 points and had five rebounds and three blocks in the second, and scored seven points in the third.

Eastern Oregon (9-1) kept rolling as Vintea Georges (Vanden) scored nine points and had five rebounds in an 81-50 win over Concordia (Ore.) and added four points and two boards in a 59-55 victory over Warner Pacific.

Hillarie Perrin-Grant rebounded from a tough outing with a solid one for Cal State Dominguez Hills, going scoreless with four rebounds while turning the ball over eight times in a 79-54 loss to UC San Diego before scoring eight points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists — with no turnovers — in a 63-57 loss to Cal State Bernardino.

Having a good game in a losing cause, Jazmine Miller (Vanden) scored 15 of her team-high 18 points as Chico State (3-2) fell 70-55 to Cal Poly Pomona, going 6 of 6 from the line. Earlier, she had two points and two steals in a 59-54 defeat of San Francisco State.

Cal State Stanislaus also lost to Cal Poly Pomona, falling 81-56 with Jameiz Terrell (Fairfield resident) getting 10 points, three rebounds and two steals. She later had nine points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists in a 72-62 loss to San Francisco State.

Nebraska-Kearney, coached by former Solano assistant Kevin Chaney, fell 76-51 to Western State and 73-61 to Colorado Mesa. Ivy Jones (Solano) had five points and two rebounds in the former.

Lourdes (4-7) lost to Aquinas 73-56 and Siena Heights 87-55. The Gray Wolves are coached by former Fairfield High standout Zareth Gray.

Swimming

Britney Vogel (Armijo) won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1 minute, 5.77 seconds for Fresno State in a 165-135 loss to Idaho. The former Indian also finished fourth in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.79) and swam a leg in the 200 free relay, helping the Bulldogs finish fourth in 1:44.61.

Reach Paul Farmer at 425-4646 Ext. 264 or pfarmer@dailyrepublic.net.