Cole in cruise control: Record-setting Inderkum passer plays big, fires 7 TDs on homecoming
Ricky Cole isn’t the biggest guy on the field, yet the kid regularly manages to put up big numbers.
Listed generously at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, the Inderkum Tigers senior quarterback towered in achievement on Friday night in a Capital Valley Conference contest, tossing seven touchdowns on homecoming night in Natomas against Vista del Lago in a 64-21 blowout victory.
Fireworks burst into the air and lit the sky after every score. It sounded like the Fourth of July, and smelled like it too, as streaking clouds of smoke drifted throughout the stadium and hovered following the aftermath. Tigers players were high-fiving and doing routine handshakes and touchdown celebrations on the sideline, all ignited by the efforts of the diminutive passer.
Ranked No. 11 by The Bee, Inderkum earned its first CVC win to remain in the championship race in recovering from a crushing 37-36 loss at No. 10 Christian Brothers. Inderkum is 4-2 overall, including a tight nonleague setback at No. 2 Grant. Vista dropped to 1-2 in league play, 2-5 overall.
“We made a big point that we’re still a contender,” Cole said. “It was an outstanding statement.”
Five different receivers caught touchdowns from Cole. Seniors Lono Chouteau and Marcellus Maxwell each caught two, and senior Zayden Maxwell, juniors Jacob Stoll and LeAndrew Jenkins had one each. Cole completed 22 of 32 passes for 248 yards and was not intercepted.
Most kids who just had a monster performance would be on cloud nine. For Cole and the Tigers, it’s business as usual. This is two seasons of a work in progress as Cole has shattered every school passing record. Inderkum for years was a running team — until Cole came along.
“This is a good momentum booster,” Cole said. “Right now, we’re just going to take it in, move on, and watch some film. Honestly, it’s just one week at a time. We’re always 0-0 each week.”
Cole is a familiar name with the program. His father Rick Cole. Sr. is Inderkum’s quarterback coach, and he has two brothers on the roster. The coach sees first hand how much his quarterback son cares.
“He just doesn’t want to let his teammates down,” Cole Sr. said. “That’s his biggest thing people may not know. I mean, he’s in it to win, but he doesn’t want to let anybody down. He’s got a big heart.”
Tigers head coach Reggie Harris recalled coaching Cole as a freshman when he threw him into the varsity fire as a starter from day one.
“I kept showing him that I believe in him,” Harris said. “I kept explaining to him, ‘Look, I can do all the believing, but you have to believe in yourself too.’ It’s a two-way street. I’m not out here trying to recruit some quarterback and all this kind of stuff. I said (to Ricky) you’re what I got, you are all I need, that’s it. We’re going to do this together.”
Harris said there were some bumps in the road when Cole wasn’t sure which direction he was going in. That’s typical when it comes to developing boys into men in a sport big on ups and downs.
“We sat, talked and figured it out together. And, we ride,” Harris said.
As he transitions into his next chapter in football, Cole said he aspires to be a good example for his younger brothers in the program: linebacker Cruise Cole; receiver/defensive back JJ Cole, who nabbed two interceptions on Friday; and sophomore Brody Cole, who starts at quarterback for the JV squad.
“Honestly, I can’t really describe how much fun that is to have a whole family involved in football,” Cole Jr. said. “I just always try to be a role model for them too. Always do the right things, make sure they’re in line and check. It’s just so special to have.”
Cole basked in the atmosphere that a successful football program has created within Natomas Unified School District. Fans appreciate Cole for his career and approach with the best part of his senior season looming.
“It means so much…the community is so fantastic,” Cole said. “Every week, they’re just showing out and just doing (things), putting all this effort into the football program. Just that on (homecoming) night is so special to me.”
Cole hopes that this isn’t his final season playing football. He has received recruiting interest from some Division I colleges, including the Ivy League, which tells you what sort of good student Cole is. He attended football camps at Harvard. NCAA Division III programs from Oregon — Western Oregon and Lewis & Clark — have also reached out.
Cole ended his junior season with 2,562 passing yards and 49 touchdowns. So far, through six games, he’s eclipsed 1,000 yards with 17 touchdown passes. Those are big numbers for the offensive leader.
“I’m not the biggest, but it’s never affected my game, ever. I’ve always been undersized. I know I’m doubted sometimes, but I know I can do it. I know that at the next level I can play,” Cole said. “I’ve always had confidence growing up. My parents always boosted my ego a bunch.”
Winning helps, too.
This story was originally published October 5, 2024 at 11:34 AM.