There was more than enough electricity to power the Cerritos College offense on Saturday night in their 50-14 National Division Central League win over Chaffey College. A series of lightning storms caused the game to start 17 minutes late, while another flurry of strikes forced the teams off the field for 30 minutes midway through the third quarter. But in between the delays, the Falcons (5-1, 1-0) offense racked up 505 total yards and scored 50 or more points for the second time this season. Next Saturday, the team travels to El Camino College to take on the Warriors for the annual battle for the Milk Can Trophy.

Against the Panthers (2-4, 0-1), Cerritos drove downfield and scored on their first drive of the game. On second down at the Chaffey 49-yard line sophomore quarterback Jordan Simpson (Gahr HS) went long to freshman wide receiver Michael Bruner (Long Beach Wilson HS), who pulled in the ball and put the team at the 10-yard line. Two plays later, sophomore running back Davon Booth (El Monte HS) scampered in from two yards out. The Falcons added to their 6-0 lead (extra point was missed) on their next drive, with Booth breaking off a 60-yard run to get into the red zone. Six plays later, Simpson connected with sophomore tight end Jacob Leija (La Serna HS) from seven yards out, and after Booth converted the two-point play, it was 14-0.

The score increased to 17-0 on the next drive, as sophomore Abraham Delgadillo (Gahr HS) booted a 21-yard field goal with 4:21 remaining in the half. Cerritos closed out the half by scoring on their fourth possession when Delgadillo was good from 32 yards out with :04 seconds left in the first half. At intermission, Simpson had 165 yards through the air on 7-of-9 passing with Booth rushing for 123 yards.

Taking possession of the ball to start the second half, Cerritos went downfield and scored for the fifth straight time, as they went 68 yards on seven plays. Booth opened the half with a 22-yard romp and also added 23 yards to convert a 3rd-and-7. Simpson got the team into the end zone when he found freshman wide receiver Jaceon Doss (St. John Bosco HS) in the corner of the end zone from 17 yards out to make it a 27-0 lead.

Lost in the offensive success by the Falcons was the play of the defense, who kept the Panthers in check all night. On the next drive after the Falcons touchdown, sophomore strong safety Angel Garcia (St. Paul HS) picked off Parker Wells and returned it 20 yards to the Chaffey 38-yard line. Cerritos became a perfect 6-for-6 on their offensive drives when sophomore running back Travys Davis (Artesia HS/Aurora (IL) University) reached the end zone from seven yards out to make it a 34-0 lead with 6:42 left in the third quarter. The touchdown came two plays after the teams returned from their second 30-minute lightning delay.

After the Panthers opened the fourth quarter by getting on the board to end the shutout attempt, Bruner responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 69 yards to the Chaffey 23-yard line. Hayes accounted for all 23 yards on two plays and got into the end zone from seven yards out to make it 7-for-7 on offensive drives. The defense then forced a three-and-out and when the snap for the punt sailed into the end zone, Cerritos was awarded a safety.

Freshman quarterback Aiden Sanchez (Bishop Amat HS) came on and directed the team on a 59-yard drive in 6:11 to account for the team's final points and complete a perfect 8-for-8 on drives that resulted in points. Sanchez went 3-for-5 on the drive, which included an 18-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Elisah Davis (Los Alamitos HS) on 4th-and-9. Freshman running back Marcus Minor (Lakewood HS) concluded the drive with a one-yard scoring touchdown.

Along with Booth finishing with 173 yards on the ground, Simpson concluded the night 11-for-15 through the air for 199 yards and two touchdowns. On the night, 10 different receivers caught passes.

The defense, who limited Chaffey to just 235 yards, were led by sophomore defensive end Zyier Thornton (Lynwood HS/Los Angeles Harbor College), who had seven stops to go along with a quarterback sack, with freshman linebacker Peako Tautai (Lakewood HS) accounting for six second half stops. As a team, the Falcons finished with eight tackles for loss, with sophomore Alama Collins (Long Beach Wilson HS) leading with way with two.

Photos by Daryl Peterson