(SANTA MARIA) -- The hardest part is over for the Pasadena City College football team. The visiting Lancers lost their SCFA American Pacific League opener Saturday against division favorite Allan Hancock, 45-14, to conclude a stretch of four straight games against some of the state's most powerful programs.
PCC (2-4) lost four in a row v. teams that have a combined 21-3 overall, including CCCSIA state #7-rated Saddleback, #9 Chaffey, #19 San Bernardino Valley and Hancock, both last year's APL and American Division Bowl champions. The Lancers were as close as 21-14 v. the Bulldogs (4-2) during the first half, but big plays for both teams dried up in the second half as Hancock's defense was steady while their offense used a ball-control running game to eat up the clock.
Hancock didn't waste any time as Eddie Battle took the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. A Lancers 3-and-out was followed by a 67-yard run up the middle by DJ Whitmill. That set up a 10-yard scoring run by Maurice Smith and a 14-0 lead.
PCC gambled a few times with trick plays, one that worked and a few that did not. Facing a 4th down at its 10, Jonathan Borashan went back to punt but the snap went instead to quarterback Edward Norton who took off for a 67-yard gallop. Running back Salman Gurung followed on a 20-yard run into the red zone. Norton then found wide receiver David Telles for a 2-yard TD pass that cut it to 14-7.
In the second quarter, Norton launched a bomb to a streaking Telles, who pulled in a spectacular 57-yard pass one-handed down the middle of the field. PCC again would move into the red zone but after being stalled set up for a 21-yard field goal try by placekicker Bracomonte Bucio. The Lancers instead faked the attempt and pitched it to Bucio who had the end zone in sight. Instead, Bucio was drilled by Curt McDonald forcing a fumble that was picked up by EJ Barrera. The safety took off for a 95-yard fumble return for a TD and a 21-7 Hancock advantage.
The Lancers came right back on the next series. Second quarterback Kade Wentz drove the team on a 9-play, 75-yard drive. His third completion of the series was a 33-yard TD pass to a wide open Justen Campbell, who camped under the pass in the end zone. Bucio's second extra point cut it to 21-14 with 5:29 left before halftime. Once again, the Lancers tried some trickery with an onside kick that failed with Hancock getting great field territory at the PCC 43.
The Bulldogs went on to score 10 points before halftime and outscored PCC, 14-0, as they controlled most of the second half. The last PCC spark came on its opening third-quarter drive. Gurung raced 25 yards for a first down and Norton bolted for a 30-yard run deep into AHC territory. But it would be Norton's last play of the game as he left with an undisclosed injury. Two plays later, Kyron Smith intercepted a Wentz pass in the end zone that ended a scoring opportunity.
Norton finished with 111 yards rushing in seven carries and added 90 yards passing (9-for-14). Wentz was 5-for-11 for 60 yards and also ran well with 38 yards in nine attempts. Gurung added 59 yards in eight tries. Telles totaled 111 yards of all-purpose offense including nine receptions for 81 yards.
On defense, safety Darren Meyers had the team's only sack of Hancock quarterback Matt Garcia (9-for-12, 161 yards). Linebacker Mark Navarro totaled 13 tackles (threes solos), Sebastian Ramos nine tackles (six solos and most of his plays in the fourth quarter), Drew Pendleton eight tackles, Kaydon Spens six, and Robbie Kindle five tackles, including two for lost yardage.
In total offense, Hancock only outgained PCC, 426-408. One area that the Bulldogs did better was third-down efficiency with a 7-for-12 success rate while PCC made 4-of-14 on its third-down plays. The Lancers did twice get first downs on fourth down, however.
"Take away some of the big plays we allowed and maybe the score is a lot closer," said PCC head coach Steven Mojarro. "We executed on offense against a very good defense. Our defense gave up some long plays especially in the first half, and when we started to slow down their rushing game, Hancock did a good job of hurting us with a key pass for a first down. We still did a lot of positive things that we can take into the rest of league play. This has been a very tough stretch for our squad, something we expected but that part of the schedule is over.
The Lancers hope to end a 4-game losing streak this Saturday, Oct. 26 when they return home for a 6 p.m. APL kickoff v. Pierce College.