Down 17-0 late in the second quarter, things looked bleak for the Pasadena City College football team v. state #19 Bakersfield. But the #22 Lancers staged one of the most improbable and fastest comebacks, scoring five straight touchdowns in the third quarter on their way to a 45-24 victory in a SCFA Central League game at Robinson Stadium on Saturday night.
Pasadena improved to 3-2 and 1-1 in league play in scoring 45 consecutive points, starting with a 21-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Chen right before halftime.
On the second half kickoff, Desi Valdes returned it 90 yards for a thrilling touchdown. Two plays later, Valdes made a spectacular pass break-up as he batted the ball to Caeden Holcomb, who returned an interception 42 yards for another touchdown.
After PCC's defense held Bakersfield on the next series, running back Dom Ezeonye broke loose for a 45-yard carry, then a 12-yard gain. Noah Triplett took a lateral from quarterback Xavier Buckles and raced 20 yards as PCC jumped ahead. Holder Jagg Richer faked the extra point and raced into the end zone for a 2-point conversion and a 24-17 Lancers lead. Pasadena scored three TDs in a span of 5:29 to open the second half.
On 4th-and-1 at midfield, Valdes turned a huge tackle on a bootleg keeper by Renegades quarterback Malachi Statler for a 3-yard loss as PCC took possession in Bakersfield territory. Buckles then fired a pass that Maddux Mateski pulled in for a circus catch at the 25, then made a spin move to take off for a 45-yard TD reception.
"Desi V Productions" continued as Valdes caused havoc on the next series as he forced a fumble that was recovered by Coleman Morning at the Bakersfield 32. Triplett capped the third-quarter scoring bonanza with a 5-yard TD scamper and a 38-17 lead with nine seconds left in the period.
PCC Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker said, "I thought the third quarter was a great example of who we can be if we play complementary football. We have two dynamic returners and feel that every kickoff return is a scoring opportunity. Desi's kickoff return, deflection on the TD interception, and strip were big time plays that sparked the team.
"Then, being able to to get the running game going on offense really opened up the passing game. Loved the energy at Robinson Stadium tonight!"
Desi Valdes forced fumble
Elijah Tehe added a 6-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and with Chen's fourth extra point, PCC had scored 45 unanswered points.
Valdes had a monster performance in finishing with seven tackles, three pass break-ups (not credited statistically on interception), a forced fumble and added 126 yards on kick returns. Both Gabriel Sulaiman and Morning made 11 tackles each while Kim Aseh added eight tackles. Ethan Bowser, Jasun Ridley and Devon Jones had six tackles each.
Buckles completed 16 of 26 passes for 166 yards.
Pasadena will take its bye week, then return with the annual Homecoming Game in a rare mid-week game on Thursday, Oct. 9 in a 6 p.m. kickoff v. Golden West at Robinson Stadium.
PCC GRIDIRON NOTES: Alejandro Rodriguez made four punts for a 40.5 yards average, including a 57-yard, high hang time boot...The Lancers beat Bakersfield for the first time since 2008 while the Renegades hold an 18-14-1 record in the all-time series between the two colleges. This was the first meeting between them since 2015...Triplett led the receivers with four catches, Ezeonye had a team-high 60 rushing yards on five touches with Triplett gaining 47 in eight attempts and two TDs...In the first half of its two league games, PCC was outscored 37-3, but in the second half, the Lancers have tallied 56 points and allowed Canyons and Bakersfield no points...PCC now has two kick returns for TDs this season...Morning leads the squad in tackles with 34, Ridley a high of 19 solos (28 overall), and Valdes tops defensive backs in pass break-ups with six.
