The Southwestern College football team picked up its second win of the season — and second win in its last three games — by defeating visiting San Diego Mesa, 42-30, last Saturday in an American Mountain Conference game.
Quarterback Joe Hudson scored three rushing touchdowns and running back Shannon Nickson added a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead the Jaguars (1-1 in conference, 2-3 overall).
Southwestern, smarting from a 34-14 defeat at Victor Valley in the teams’ conference opener the previous week, broke out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter against the Olympians (0-2, 2-3). Nickson (25 carries, 106 yards) scored on a 27-yard run, Malik Kimbrough (10 carries, 105 yards) scored on a 69-yard run and Hudson (14 carries, 71 yards) scored on an 11-yard run to build the early lead.
The Jaguars moved out to a 28-3 lead when Nickson scored on a three-yard run with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter but the visitors got back in the game by reeling off three unanswered touchdowns to close the gap on the scoreboard to 28-24.
A 59-yard interception return for a touchdowns and a two-yard fumble return 15 seconds apart trimmed Southwestern’s lead to 28-1 at halftime. Mesa then scored the opening touchdown of the second half to make it a one score game.
The Jags regained control of the scoreboard on successive touchdowns by Hudson on runs of four and two yards. Trailing 42-24, Desmond Simmons scored on a 58-yard pass play from Olympian quarterback Nick Plum with 5:24 to play in the fourth quarter to close out scoring in the game.
SWC piled up 472 yards in total offense, including 318 rushing yards. Hudson compiled 157 passing yards but did not throw a touchdown pass.
Trevor Kemp and Ricky Barfield each had picks on defense to lead the victors. Kemp had a 23-yard return on his interception.
Mahmoud Mansour, David Blevins and Niko Hammond each recorded sacks for SWC.
The Jaguars are off until they travel to East Los Angeles (1-1, 2-2) for an Oct. 17 conference game.
Nickson leads Southwestern with 298 rushing yards and four touchdowns in five games. As a team, the Jags are averaging 19.4 points per game.
American Mountain Standings
•Victor Valley 2-0, 5-0
•College of Desert 2-0, 2-3
•San Bernardino Valley 1-1, 4-1
•East Los Angeles 1-1, 2-2
•Mt. San Jacinto 1-1, 2-3
•Southwestern 1-1, 2-3
•San Diego Mesa 0-2, 2-3
•El Camino-Compton Center 0-2, 0-5
