COD Football routs LA Valley 58-6 in Homecoming game cut short by power outage

College of the Desert (3-2; 1-0) opened American Conference-Metro League play with a 58-6 rout of Los Angeles Valley (1-5; 0-1) in the 63rd Annual Homecoming Game on Saturday night. The game ended with 41 seconds left in the third quarter, when power went out across campus.

Desert took its opening drive in for a score and led 21-0 after one quarter and 38-3 at halftime. The Roadrunners added three more touchdowns in the second half. Just as freshman kicker Kael Jahn (Cameron, N.C./Union Pines) was lining up his eighth extra-point attempt, the lights went out at 8:46 p.m. The head coaches and officials met at midfield and agreed to end the game.

It is the second straight Homecoming game in which a third-quarter power outage ended play early.

Offense

Freshman running back Tanelle Rose (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Charles F. Brush) had his best game of the season, rushing nine times for 141 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring runs of 75 and 48 yards.

Freshman running back Myles Harper (Yucca Valley H.S.) also had a season-best night, carrying 11 times for 136 yards and a 54-yard touchdown.

Jahn went a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points, a season best, and also kicked a 31-yard field goal, his longest of the season.

Defense

The Roadrunners intercepted four passes, including two pick-sixes. Sophomore defensive lineman Ayden Ogilvie (Twentynine Palms H.S.) returned one 15 yards for a score in the first quarter. Sophomore linebacker Payton Reynolds (La Quinta H.S.) took another 72 yards to the end zone as the first half expired.

Freshman linebacker Josiah Garrison (Bermuda Dunes/Desert Christian Academy) led the team with 2.5 sacks. He added six tackles (three solo) and two quarterback hurries.

Sophomore linebacker Donte Winfrey (Rancho Mirage H.S.) led Desert with eight tackles, six of them assisted.

Series history

Desert first played LA Valley in 1986 and holds an 8-4 all-time edge, including a 4-2 mark in Palm Desert. The Roadrunners have won four straight in the series, dating to Sept. 18, 2021.

Up next

Desert visits the East Los Angeles Huskies in Monterey Park on Oct. 10. The teams first met in 1982, and COD leads the series 9-5 overall and 5-2 in Monterey Park.

The Roadrunners return home Oct. 17 to host the Compton Coyotes. COD first faced Compton in 2014, when the school's mascot was the Tartars, and leads the series 7-0 overall and 3-0 in Palm Desert.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Dale Beck Photography.