The Southwestern College football team kicked off American Mountain Conference play with a 30-14 win at Victor Valley last Saturday, Oct. 14. The Jaguars (1-0 in conference play, 4-2 overall) next play at Mt. San Jacinto College (0-1, 3-3) on Saturday, Oct. 21, as conference play continues.
The Jags won last Saturday’s conference opener in inspired fashion after recovering from an early 14-0 defict.
“The game started out rocky with our backs against the end zone,” SWC head coach Ed Carberry said. “We once again fumbled away the ball and Victor Valley scored the first touchdown of the game.”
However, with freshman quarterback Armani Sailor-Jones (Las Vegas Silverado) behind center, Southwestern would go on to score 30 unanswered points.
Sophomore running back Isaiah Strayhorn (Eastlake) rushed for 108 yards to lead the ground game.
Carberry noted that sophomore offensive lineman Robin Luna (Germany) played his best game of the season.
SWC recorded four sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery on defense.
“The defense played tough from the get-go,” Carberry said. “Freshman safety Shaq Bond (Decator Mcarthur High School, Ill.) had another solid game to follow up his two-interception game against Citrus College. Sophomore Ethan Williams (Bonita Vista) had a interception. Freshman linebacker Cameron Hanson(Mount Miguel) also had a big night.”
Freshman punter/place-kicker Ralphie Gomez (Olympian) earned honors as the Jag’s special teams player of the game after dominating field position with his punts. Gomez finished the game with two field goals, two extra-point conversions and a 43.5-yard punting average.
Carberry noted that Williams was solid returning short pop-up kickoffs (75 yards on kick returns).
Scouting report
Southwestern will play its only day game of the season when it visits Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday.
Carberry said the offense for the Eagles is all about speed. He said this year’s MSJ team has the most talented offense since its 2012 team that went to a postseason bowl game.
“They have the speed to get outside and the skill people for the deep ball,” the SWC head coach said.
Sophomore quarterback Sheriron Jones, from nearby Rancho Verde High School, leads the MSJ offense. He has excellent speed and good velocity on his throws, according to Carberry.
Running back Jomari Becnel leads the conference with 590 rushing yards. Freshman receiver Daniel Singer (also from Rancho Verde) is the team’s top target with 26 catches. Carberry said the Eagles offensive line has good size.
Carberry said the MSJ defensive line also has good size in the inside. Inside linebackers James Reeder (6-1, 230) and Andrew Berry (6-1, 215) lead the team in that area. Tyler Freeman (6-2, 190) leads the Eagles in the secondary.
Carberry said local winds can often affect the kicking game.
American Mountain
Conference Standings
San Diego Mesa 1-0, 5-1
College of the Desert 1-0, 4-2
Southwestern 1-0, 4-2
Victor Valley 0-1, 4-2
Mt. San Jacinto 0-1, 3-3
San Bernardino Valley 0-1, 3-3
Southern California
American Division Rankings
1. San Diego Mesa 5-1
2. Allan Hancock 4-2
3. Southwestern 4-2
4. College of the Desert 4-2
5. L.A. Valley 4-2
6. Victor Valley 4-2
7. Santa Ana 4-3
8. East Los Angeles 4-3
9. San Bernardino Valley 3-3
10. Antelope Valley 3-3
Aztecs become bowl eligible but fall from AP Top 25 rankings
San Diego State University became bowl eligible by defeating host UNLV, 41-10, on Oct. 7 to improve to 6-0. The Mountain West has tie-ins to five bowl games this season: Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 16), New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16), Potato Bowl (Dec. 22), Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24) and Arizona Bowl (Dec. 30).
The 19th ranked Aztecs, however, were not able to extend their season opening winning streak after dropping a 31-14 MW inter-division game to Boise State last Saturday at SDCCU Stadium. The Broncos (4-2) jumped out to an imposing 21-0 halftime lead. SDSU (6-1) chiseled the deficit to 21-7 and 24-14, but was unable to complete a comeback in front of 49,053 fans.
With the loss, the Aztecs dropped out of the Top 25 AP rankings.
Rashaad Penny (21 carries, 53 rushing yards) scored one touchdown on an 11-yard run while Christian Chapman (12-of-27 for 240 passing yards) threw an 89-yard touchdown pass to Fred Trevillion (two catches, 128 receiving yards) to account for the two SDSU scores.
Penny tops the Aztecs with 1,046 rushing yards and tops the team with 13 touchdowns (10 rushing, two receiving, one kick return).
Chapman has completed 92 of 153 passing attempts (60.1 percent) for 1,208 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception.
Mikah Holder (Oceanside) leads SDSU receivers with 25 catches for 348 yards.
Olympian High School alumnus Collin Andrews, a freshman wide receiver, has one catch for 11 yards so far this season for the Aztecs.
The Boise State front line presented problems for the Aztecs throughout the game. The Broncos finished with 186 rushing yards compared to 83 yards for SDSU. Chapman was sacked five times and hit 24 times.
“They (Boise State) played more physical at the line of scrimmage and I don’t think it was a lack of will or want to but they played with a lot better technique which means that they played with a lower pad level and better leverage,” Aztec head coach Rocky Long said. “When you play with lower pad level and better leverage, you’re able to get off blocks and make tackles.
“We never overcame that on offense. On defense, our guys played pretty well up front until late in the game when we had to stop them to have a chance to win and we couldn’t stop them. The same thing happened: Their offensive line played with lower pad level and extended and stepped with the right feet and our fundamentals weren’t as good as their fundamentals. What happens is, they are a more physical team because they did it better than we did it.”
Long is one of 20 coaches named to the 2017 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List. The Dodd Trophy is presented to the head coach of a team that enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy.
SDSU never trailed in the win at UNLV, though the game was tied early 3-3. The Aztecs pulled away with three second-half touchdowns.
Penny rushed 27 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns while Chapman passed for 172 yards and scored once via the run. The visitors scored five rushing touchdowns and tacked on two field goals.
SDSU (2-1 in conference play) host Fresno State (4-2) in Saturday’s annual homecoming game. The Bulldogs are coming off a 38-0 shutout win over New Mexico and lead the MW West Division standings with a 3-0 record.
This will be the 57th meeting between SDSU and Fresno State. The Old Oil Can trophy is presented to the winner of the game. The Aztecs have won their last three homecoming games by a combined score of 128-24.
“They’re coming in with a lot of confidence and a lot of energy and they’ll be very positive,” Long said in previewing Saturday’s contest. “It’s going to be a heck of a football game.”
Among the festivities planned is an alumni tailgate from 5 to 7 p.m. in Aztec Village (lots C1/D1 in the stadium parking lot).
