Football Offense Returns To Form, Down LASW, 44-6

The Pasadena City College football team got back to basics and played mistake-free in routing Los Angeles Southwest, 44-6, in a SCFA American Pacific League game at Robinson Stadium on Saturday night.

The Lancers improved to 7-1 overall and remained perfect in SCFA American Pacific League play at 3-0. LASW fell to 4-4 and 1-2.

PCC's defense continuted its impressive play, but it was the offense that awoke after struggling in their first two league wins v. Santa Monica (17-3) and LA Pierce (20-17). 

Lefty quarterback Kekahi Graham moved the chains by helping PCC garner 31 first downs and 465 offensive yards. Graham was efficient, completing 21 of 25 throws for 215 yards. He launched a pair of 25-yard touchdowns throws. The first was a solid pass to the back of the end zone to Greg Moore that followed a 32-yard interception return by Idrique Carmichael, who somehow caught a deflected pass before it hit the turf that he raced back to the LASW 48. 

It was Carmichael's sixth interception this season. The Graham-Moore connection and an extra point kick by Justin Vergara gave the Lancers a 7-0 first-quarter lead. Vergara added a 21-yard FG for the only points of the second quarter, resulting in a 10-0 halftime lead.

Then 1:56 into the third quarter, Graham spiraled a perfect pass to Damien Gonzales for a 17-0 lead. The Lancers picked up speed and added TD runs of 6 yards by Isaac Glover and 2 yards by Mohammad Maali to put the game out of reach at 31-0 to end the third quarter.

Playing second and third string players in the fourth quarter, reserve quarterback Kaden Taylor ran for touchdowns of 13 and 5 yards to close out the PCC offensive evening. A 10-yard TD pass by Micheal Franklin to Jelani Guerrero at 2:44 into the final period proved to be the first offensive touchdown by an opponent in three league games against the Lancers defense.

Maali led the ground game with 70 yards in just seven attempts. Taylor added 35 yards in five keepers and Micah Mendoza 35 yards in three touches. Gonzales led receivers with five catches for 60 yards, followed closely by Jordan Rodriguez with five for 56 yards. Vergara was 4-for-4 on extra point kicks and totaled three touchbacks on kickoffs, giving him 15 on the year.

The defense was paced by linebacker Jachai Pulley with 11 tackles (seven solo) and a quarterbac hurry, LB Kyden Bailey with nine tackles, and defensive back Torriq Brumfield, who made eight tackles and one pass breakup. 

PCC hosts Glendale College next Saturday, Nov. 4 in the team's final regular season home game in a 6 p.m. kickoff.