Community College Football Roundup

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 28, 2024

2023 COMMUNTUY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

ECS staff report

San Diego Mesa 40 Grossmont 14

KEARNY MESA – Grossmont College needed just 3:21 to grab an early lead, but 5th-raked San Diego Mesa dominated the rest of the way to take Saturday’s (Sept. 28) National Conference South Division opener over the v isiting Griffins, 40-14, at Merrill Douglas Stadium

The Olympians (4-0 overall) out-scored the G-House, 40-7, over the final 56 minutes, then attemped to run up the score in the final minutes by throwing a deep bomb, but the pass was interceptied by Grossmont safety Jaiden Vaquera.

Mesa was also from running up the score in the lare minutes on a sack by Arorae Petaia, as Grossmont defenders again played well despite being on the field for the majoring of the contest.

Included was the Griffins’ only other score after – Christian Boykins raced 50 yards on an interception runback.

Kairo Kahananui led th Griffins with 8 tackles, including two for losses.

However, the Mesa defense was even better, limiting Grossmont to just 27 passing yards (57 overall) — the second-lowest total in GC history.

Included were interceptions by John Shepard (40-yard return) and Jayden Cortell (14), plus three sacks.

Next week, Mesa will host Saddlebacj, then close the regular season with easily the toughest schedule in the state, playing 4-of-5 on the road the lone home match will be against last-place Southwestern.

Meanwhile, Grossmont will entertain Palomar at Mashin-Roth Memorial Field. BOXSCORE

Riverside 52, Palomar 14

RIVERSIDE – In a tale of two completely different halves, a close ballgame became a one-sided affair after Riverside City College tallied 35 unanswered points in the second half Saturday (Sept. 28), whipping visiting Palomar, 52-14, at RC’s Wheelock Stadium.

The scoring streak reached 38 points after the Tigers broke a 14-all deadlock with a late 28-yard field goal late in the second quarter.

Riverside quarterback Brady Jones. then completed two of his three touchdown passes after the break,finishing with 381 passing yards.

The ballgame started as a swap meet.

After the Tigers opening the scoring, Palomar drew even on a Jackson Owens 39-yard TD pass from Brady Jones early in the second quarter,

Again, RCC re-gained a 7-point lead, but the Comets again caught them when Palomar needed to drive just a poultry two yard on a single dive play to running back Jaiden Letua.

The score was set up on a Brady interceptions by Comets defender Davion Green (38-yard runback), which was set by a coffin corner punt by Palomar’s Camden Cowgill.

Other top performers for Palomar include linebacker Steven Arteaga (15 tackles), Lucas Valencia (10 tackles) , James Coddington (15-yard interception return), and Isaiah Dixon (forced fumble).

Riverside led in total offense, 727-220. The Tigers now hold an astounding 1,488 yards of offense over the past two weeks (761 vs. El Camino).

The game was the National Conference Southern Division opener for both schools, as Riverside moves to 3-1 overall Palomar falls to 1-3. BOXSCORE

Read more HERE.

Saddleback 38, Southwestern 10

MISSION VIEJO – Southwestern College took advantage of a botched punt by Saddleback for a second-quarter touchdown, otherwise it was all Bobcats in a 38-10 victory over the Jaguars on homecoming at Saddleback Stadium.

The long snap attempt sailed over the head of the punter, leaving the ball at the Bobcats-28. One play later, Mahki Gray Virgil hauled in a TD pass from Connor Underhill to trim the deficit to 10-7However, the balance of the contest was in favir if Saddleback ((3 overall) in the National Conference South Division opener for both schools. Southwestern is unless in three starts.

The only other Jaguars score came on a Cuevasibarra field goal of 20 yards to move to within 17-10 early in the thitd period. However, Saddleback tallied 21 unanswered point to seal the verdict. BOXSCORE

Read more HERE.

— Conpiled by Nick Pellegrino