Griffs find different ways to lose on road

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 25, 2022

2022 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

MOORPARK — A spectacular display of defense by Grossmont College, which yielded just a pair of field goals all Saturday (Sept. 25), left many to wonder how did the Griffins fall to host Moorpark College, 32-24.

The Raiders tallied four touchdowns — but none on offense, to win– avenging last season’s setback in the schools’ only meeting this century..

A pair of Raiders scores came on interception returns (with a third falling one block short of a 100-yard runback), while two others came on special teams.

Included was a punt block for a TD, then after Grossmont corrected its blocking coverage, Moorpark’s other score came on a punt runback.

Despite a dreary three-quarters of play, capped by the key automatic ejection of running back Keiyon Holloway to a second misconduct penalty midway through the third quarter, Griffin reserve quarterback Trent Giles stepped in and gave Grossmont a chance to force overtime.

After Elia Kirisimasi was benched, Giles posted three consecutive drives into the Moorpark red zone.

The first was stopped on an interception that was nearly going 100-plus yards, and the remaining marches went for touchdowns.

Giles scored on a 1-yard QB sneak to cap a 70-yard drive. Then following a Moorpark field goal, Giles connected with Dillon Gebase on a 9-yard pass in the corner of the end zone, as Giles rolled to his right, then fired the ball across the field to the left side of the field.

The extra point trimmed the deficit to eight points, but one final drive in the final two minutes result in a failed fourth down from near midfield, as Moorpark (2-2 overall) was able to run out the clock.

Holloway (11 carries, 55 yards) was much of Grossmont’s offense for three quarters, except for one gadget play when receiver Cleveland Ford III tossed an option pass for 70 yards to Stefan Whelchel.

However, the halftime statistics were not pretty. Trailing 22-3, Grossmont led in total offense, 178-65, as the Griffins’ defense was the lone aspect of the ballclub to shine.

According to the stats lept by Moorpark, Jagger Giles led the G-House with six tackles, while Aldo Olweny and Tymon Palaefei had five each. However, local scorers didn’t bother recording a tackle on 13 other plays, so the totals on all four should be higher — Moorpark wasn’t running out of bounds all contest.

Raymond Bernard and Jeriah Jackson also garnered interceptions for Grossmont (2-2).

Meanwhile, the Raiders posted six Qb sacks and another half-dozen hurries, most well before Giles entered to engineer the comeback.

For the contest, Grossmont collected 470 yards in total offense, including more than 200 in the fourth quarter under Giles. The Raiders were limited to a mere 136 yards on 60 plays (barely 2 yards per snap).

Grossmont completes the non-conference portion of its schedule next Saturday, hosting Santa Ana at Mashin-Roth Memorial Field at 3 p.m. The Dons earlier lost to Moorpark this season, 34-31.

SUMMARY

RAIDERS 32, GRIFFINS 24
Grossmont College (2-2)…. 0 3 7 14 – 24
Moorpark College (2-2)….. 16 6 7 3 – 32
M – Arnulfo Morales 20 interception return (kicked blocked)
M - Michael Garibay 27 blocked punty return (Daniel Burke kick)
M – FG Tony Johnson 24
G – FG Jorge Aguilar 44
M – Daniel Pierce 63 punt return (pass failed)
M – Ty Ely 47 interception return (Tony Johnson kick)
G – Stefan Whelchel 19 pass from Elia Kirisimasi (Colton Dietrich kick)
G – Trenton Giles 1 run (Aguilar  kick)
M – FG Burke 29