PCC’s QB Williams, Defense Delivers In Upset Of COC, 20-12
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Pasadena | Canyons |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 99 | 163 |
| Rushing Yards | 125 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 5 |
| Time of Poss. | 33:24 | 26:36 |
The Pasadena City College football team put itself right back into bowl contention Saturday night with a stunning 20-12 upset win at SoCal No. 15-rated College of the Canyons in the SCFA National Northern Conference opener for both teams. The Lancers won for the first time ever in seven meetings against the Cougars and have a 2-game winning streak for the first time since 2010.
The Lancers (2-2 overall) led 10-0 at halftime, but Canyons came back to tie it 12-12. With 8:07 remaining in the game, PCC quarterback Dejon Williams rifled a 44-yard touchdown bomb down the sideline to receiver J. Turner Jackson. Williams then caught a 2-point conversion pass out of the wildcat formation, taking in a pass from running back Ahmad Springer to give PCC an 8-point lead.
Canyons (1-3) moved the ball on one last series, driving to the PCC 38 in the final minute. However, PCC defensive back Marlon Dobbins, coming off his SCFA Defensive Player of the Week award v. LA Harbor, intercepted a Tony Dawson pass at the PCC 19 to seal the victory. It was Dobbins third pickoff in two games.
Two big factors in the win were the play of Williams, who controlled the clock for the Lancers by using elusive option running, and an opportunistic defense. Williams ran the ball 21 times for 62 yards, but more importantly kept PCC's offense on the field for a majority 33:24 of the game's 60 minutes. The Muir High product only threw the ball 12 times, completing six for 76 yards.
The team's defense, which has allowed just 12 points in the last eight quarters, forced four COC fumbles and five turnovers overall. PCC linebacker Jalyn Williams produced a team-high 10 tackles, including two sacks, a hurry and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Anthony Johnson made a sack and recovered a pair of fumbles.
PCC opened the scoring on a 6-yard TD run by running back Timothy Jones with 4:38 left in the second quarter. Lineman Serge Vita forced and recovered a fumble at the Canyons' 24 to set up the touchdown. Johnson sacked and forced another fumble to again give the Lancers great field position at the 25. Kicker Franklyn Cervanka boomed a 42-yard field goal to up PCC's lead to 10-0 right before halftime.
After Canyons cut it to 10-6 on a Da'John Gaines 6-yard TD run in the third quarter, the Lancers followed with Kevin Bailey-Adair blocking the ensuing extra point try as teammate Robert Morgan returned the ball 94 yards for a 2-point conversion for the PCC defense.
Gaines would later tie it at 12-12 on a second 6-yard touchdown run as he went wide and beat the PCC defense to the corner of the end zone. However, COC kicker Eric Kreitz rushed his extra point attempt and missed it wide right to keep the game tied with 1:24 left in the third period.
Cervanka, Daylon Guzman-Olivas and reserve QB Elijah Turner combined to make 10 punts, none better than a 42-yard quick kick by Turner that was downed at the COC 1-yard line.
The Lancers cut down on their penalties (only seven) and did not make a turnover in 66 offensive plays.
"Our defense has risen to the occasion to make big plays and shut down both Canyons and LA Harbor the past few weeks," said PCC head coach Fred Fimbres. "We held Grossmont to 17 points, so I think we've established the type of defense that will give us a chance to win. The offense played error-free football and by cutting out mistakes, it made a big difference while Canyons had its own problems holding on to the ball."