Postseason Preview: PCC Football Travels To Santa Ana For SoCal Bowl

For the first time since 2008, the Pasadena City College football team is doing some bowling. The Lancers earned an invitation to the SCFA SoCal Bowl at Santa Ana College on Saturday, Nov. 27. Kickoff for the postseason game is 6 p.m. at SAC's Eddie West Field.

The Lancers come into the contest with an 8-2 overall record after sharing the American Division Mountain League tri-championship with Mt. San Jacinto and Grossmont. Santa Ana is 7-3 after winning the Metro League title.

PCC dealt with some interesting math as RPI and SCFA bowl championship handbook criteria numbers placed the Lancers behind MSJC (8-2), a team it beat in the league finale, and behind Santa Ana, a team that had a lesser win-loss record. After going a perfect 6-0 at Robinson Stadium this season, Pasadena had hoped for one more home contest and also had thoughts of capturing the American Division championship. Instead, the Lancers will go on the road while Mt. San Jacinto will host Antelope Valley, 8-2 and the American Pacific League champs, in the American Championship Bowl.

Despite the tough news, PCC Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker took an upbeat approach to playing in the Lancers first bowl game since a 45-14 win over Southwestern in the Santa Barbara Tremblay Services Bowl 13 years ago. 

"Earning an opportunity to compete in a bowl game is very special," he said. "I am very proud of this team for the commitment they have made to each other. It's a very close group that continues to improve every day. They have uncommon chemistry...they truly love each other!"

The all-time series between Santa Ana and PCC has zero separation between the schools as they have a 20-20-4 record v. each other. The Dons have had the best of the series of late, winning the last seven meetings, including their last matchup in 2017, 54-29 at Eddie West Field. In the very first year of Pasadena Junior College football in 1925, PCC beat Santa Ana, 6-0. The last time Pasadena beat SAC was in 2002, 44-13, when PCC Hall of Fame running back Jerome Harrison (who later performed the third highest rushing game in NFL history for the Cleveland Browns at 286 yards in 2009) was in the midst of his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season for the Lancers. 

But the most memorable game between the schools occurred in the 2007 season finale when they combined for the highest scoring game in PCC history with Santa Ana winning in regulation, 65-64. All-American First Team wide receiver David Reed set a PCC record for most receptions and receiving yards in a game with 16 catches for 262 yards and quarterback David Pittman passed for the second-highest Lancers total in a game with 474 yards (34-for-50 attempts). Reed set the national community college record for most catches and receiving yards that season with 111 receptions for 1,661 yards. Reed went on to play in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens. 

For Santa Ana in that game, quarterback Mark Iddins set a still-standing SAC record for passing yards with 407 and receiver Matt Cardenas set the Dons record for receiving in a game with 244 yards and four touchdowns. 

The following are team comparisons and then individual comparisons between the two teams in the 2021 regular season:

TEAM/State Ranked 
Total Offense: Santa Ana #3 (471.4 yards gained per game), PCC #24 (376.4)
Passing Offense: Santa Ana #1 (365.9), PCC #31 (217)
Rushing Offense: PCC #22 (159.4), Santa Ana #41 (105.6)
Points Scored: Santa Ana #1 (462, 51.3 average), PCC #12 (360, 36.0 average)
Total Defense: Santa Ana #5 (261.7 yards allowed), PCC #18 (317.8)
Passing Defense: Santa Ana #14 (190.4), PCC #28 (210.6)
Rushing Defense: Santa Ana #6 (71.2), PCC #17 (107.2)
Points Allowed: Santa Ana #5 (16.9 per game), PCC #14 (21.0)
Interceptions Made: PCC #4 (18), Santa Ana Tied #5 (17)
Sacks Made: PCC #2 (37), Santa Ana Tied #7 (29)

INDIVIDUAL/State Ranked

Passing: SAC's Ceasar Ayala 136-196, 2,259 yards, 30 TDs (2nd in state), 209.1 efficiency (1st); PCC's Kade Wentz 137-237, 1,920 yards, 18 TDs
Rushing: PCC's Edward Norton 69 carries, 456 yards, 6 TDs, 6.6 yds per carry; SAC's Gary Ferman 53-400, 6 TD, 7.5 avg.
Receiving: SAC's Arthur Shaw 48 receptions, 751 yards (8th), 9 TDs (Tied 7th), 15.6 yards per catch;
PCC's Wheeler Smith 39-715 (12th in yds), 7 TDs, 18.3 (11th)
Kicking: SAC's Aaron Rojas 2-3 FG, 60-65 extra point kicks (#1 made), 66 points (11th);
PCC's Cristian Contreras 6-11 FG, 38-40 extra points, 56 points (14th)
Kick Returns: PCC's Justen Campbell 15-402 yards, 26.8 yards average (13th), SAC's Shaw 13-331, 25.5 avg.
Tackles: PCC's Lucio Rodriguez 71 (13th), SAC's Daylen Fuller 48
Tackles For Lost Yards: Rodriguez 16-87 (tied 3rd tackles, 2nd in yards), SAC's Fuller 11-56
Interceptions: SAC's Devyon Benton 6 (tied 2nd), PCC's Osvaldo Raigosa 5 (tied 6th)
Sacks: PCC's Rodriguez 7 (tied 7th), SAC's Buddy Sagiao 4.5
Blocked Punts/Kicks: SAC's Fuller 3, PCC's Kaydon Spens 3 (both tied 2nd)