Football Returns To SCFA National Level: Fall In '25 Opener To Saddleback, 28-21

For the first time since 2015, the Pasadena City College football team is back in the SCFA National Division. Coming off a perfect 11-0 run to last year's American Division championship, the Lancers were moved up to the tougher National level.

PCC Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker prepared his squad well for the 2025 opener, and despite rallying from a 21-6 deficit to tie, ended up losing to Saddleback, 28-21, before a large crowd at Robinson Stadium. 

The Lancers trailed by halftime, 21-6, but battled back on two touchdown passes by quarterback Max Grizzell. The redshirt freshman tossed a 1-yard TD to tight end Javery Mayberry that cut it to 21-13 after Grizzell helped set things up with a 25-yard scamper, the longest rush of the night by PCC.

Late in the third quarter, Zay Blades made a spectaculur one-hand, highlight reel interception in the end zone to stop a Saddleback scoring opportunity. Grizzell then fired a pass across the middle caught by Ethan Hubbell, who took off for an 80-yard TD reception. On the extra point try, PCC holder Jagg Richer faked the hold and then stood up to complete a 2-point conversion pass to Dom Ezeonye that tied it with 3:45 remaining in the period. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Saddleback responded with a 56-yard punt return for a TD by Ben Stewart for what proved to be the winning score. 

With nine minutes left, Cedric Allen II recovered a fumble at the Saddleback 18-yard line. On fourth-and-one at the Bobcats' 4-yard line, Grizzell's short pass intended for Raul Dorantes fell incomplete. 

PCC had earlier not taken advantage on other golden red zone opportunities, including a missed short field goal and settled for a 22-yard field goal by Dylan Benitez in the second quarter after the Lancers had a first down at the 4-yard line. The biggest switch in momentum though came early in the fourth quarter when Noah Triplett appeared to score on an 87-yard kick return, but a holding penalty nullified the big play immediately following the Bobcats taking their final lead. 

"We won the turnover battle (3 by Saddleback, none by PCC), but we didn't defend well or execute enough in the red zone on both sides of the ball," Tucker said. "I thought we fought hard v. a bigger Saddleback team. We know what we need to do get better and we are going to continue to improve at practices."

The Lancers limited their penalties overall with just four compared to a whopping 17 (for 143 yards) whistled on the Bobcats. 

Overall, Grizzell switched often with backup Xavier Buckles as he completed 14 of 30 passes for 181 yards and two TDs. Buckles was 4-for-12 for 49 yards with a few dropped passes affecting his totals. Pasadena netted just 57 rushing yards, led by Ezeonye's 20 in seven carries (Grizzell had 19). 

Triplett, a redshirt freshman from New Mexico State, had a solid performance as he caught a team-best six passes for 54 yards, totaled 99 yards in four kick returns and finished with 161 yards in all-purpose offense. Hubbell had two catches for 81 yards and Josh Soto made three receptions for 37 yards.

On defense, highly-touted freshman recruit linebacker Gabriel Sulaiman, who was the Almont League Defensive MVP as a senior at Schurr High, topped the Lancers with seven tackles and had a quarterback hurry.

Six tackles each were posted by returning sophomores--defensive back Kim Aseh (five solo), linebackers Allen (five solo and a hurry) and Coleman Morning, and lineman Jasun Ridley. Top returning All-State lineman Sione Suliafu added four tackles. 

PCC's starting unit offensive line was made up of center Dylan Frank, guards Jake Adkins and Deon Mitchell, and tackles Gabe Ambrose and Erik Ramos.

On special teams, Benitez kicked two fields goals, including a 33-yard make to open the team's scoring in the first quarter, an extra point, added two punts for a 42.5 yards average, but was injured late the contest. 

Tucker is carrying 107 players on the active roster.

Next Saturday, Sept. 6, the Lancers travel to face Santa Barbara City College in a 6 p.m. non-league game. 

PCC is a new member of the 8-team, SCFA National Central League. The 7-game, league part of the schedule begins Sept. 20 in a 12 noon contest at College of the Canyons.