Fast Start Leads To Football's 7th Straight Victory

The Pasadena City College football team struck for three touchdowns in the opening 4:24 of Saturday's Homecoming Game and went on to win its seventh straight contest, defeating visiting LA Pierce, 45-10, at Robinson Stadium.

PCC stays undefeated at 7-0 and now 2-0 in the SCFA American Pacific League in hopes of winning a second straight conference title. 

Following a ceremonial coin toss that involved alums Greg Shaw and Maylon McCoy from the 1974 undefeated, PCC Hall of Fame football team, the Lancers didn't take long to excite the crowd.

On the opening kickoff, Mohammad Maali became the eighth player in PCC history to run back a kick 100 yards for a touchdown.

Then on the first play from scrimmage, Ethan Bowser recovered a Pierce fumble at the Brahmas 26 yard-line. Three plays later quarterback Kaden Taylor hit Jordan Rodriguez for a 27-yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead. A bad punt snap on Pierce's next series resulted in Bowser tackling Brahmas punter Tenorris Merkel at the 3. Taylor then found Jagg Richer for a 3-yard TD pass and PCC's commanding lead grew to 21-0.

All three PCC kickers booted extra points in the scoring spree in Ozlo Rigby, Nico Razo, and Dylan Benitez. 

The lead continued to grow on a 26-yard TD pass from Gianna Mascolino to Flip Fox, who went from one side of the field to the other on a screen and raced to the end zone. A 27-yard field goal by Rigby and a 1-yard TD run by Jon Bautista built it to 37-0 by halftime. After two quarters, PCC held an offensive yards advantage of 195-0 (finished 272-250).

In the second half, PCC Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker was able to play his second and third string which put the brakes on the onslaught while Pierce got its offense going. Devon Groves gave the Lancers their final score on a 17-yard TD run that was followed on a fake extra point kick and rush in for a 2-point conversion by holder Nathan Noguez-Estrada. 

Each of PCC's three quarterbacks saw success in Mascolino (7-for-11 passing, 82 yards, one TD), Taylor (5-for-5, 68 yards, two TDs), and Sitani Suguturaga, who was 2-for-2 for 17 yards and added a 22-yard carry. Drushun Phillips led the ground game with 31 yards rushing in eight carries as 10 different Lancers ran the ball.

Greg Moore was the top receiver, catching four passes for 41 yards. Defensively, Bowser, Julius Ray, and Kyden Bailey all had sacks while Idrique Carmichael broke up two passes. Jaydon Campbell and Sione Suliafu both recovered a fumble. Reggie Haynes played well with three solo tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass break-up.

Dominic Grand, Emmanuel Okelola, Cedric Allen II, Jonathan Lopez, and Bowser tied for the team lead in tackles with four a piece.

Next up for the Lancers is a road contest at Los Angeles Southwest College on Saturday, Nov. 2 in a 1 p.m. league kickoff. The Cougars head coach is Marguet Miller, who was the PCC offensive coordinator during "The David Show" years when quarterback David Pittman and wide receiver and future NFL player David Reed set PCC passing/receiving records in 2006-2007.