Defense carried the 2024 Pasadena City College football team this season, so naturally it was big plays from the D that propelled the Lancers to defeat Chaffey, 23-14, in winning the SCFA American Division Championship Bowl before more than 1,200 fans at Robinson Stadium Saturday night.
The Lancers completed an undefeated season at 11-0 becoming just the fifth team in school history to have a perfect season, joining the squads from 1936 (9-0), 1938 (11-0 behind the talented Jackie Robinson), 1951 (12-0), and 1953 (11-0).
Pasadena avenged its loss to Chaffey, 16-12, in last year's American Bowl played in Rancho Cucamonga, defeating the Panthers for the second time this season.
The PCC defense sacked Chaffey quarterback Julian Viramontes nine times, made two interceptions, blocked a field goal and an extra point, forced four fumbles and broke up six passes in a dominating performance.
Leading the defensive charge was American Bowl MVP Ethan Bowser, a local product and freshman linebacker from Muir High, who delivered nine tackles, two sacks, blocked a field goal, broke up two passes, and forced a fumble. Late in the first quarter, an errant punt snap led to Chaffey getting the ball at the PCC 5, but not only did the defense hold, but Bowser got his hand on a 26-yard field goal attempt by Anthony Hagan that kept PCC ahead at that point 3-0.
Another local 2-year letterman and linebacker Torriq Brumfield (Pasadena High) was the PCC Player of the Game as he totaled a game-high 10 tackles, made two sacks, forced and recovered a fumble, blocked an extra point, and broke up a pass.
A 24-yard interception return by Eli Moulton on the game's first play from scrimmage set up a 33-yard field goal by Ozlo Rigby to give PCC a 3-0 lead 2:23 into the contest.
In the second quarter, Kimbom Aseh returned an interception 24 yards to the Chaffey 40. Playing in a wildcat formation, Flip Fox broke a few tackles and raced 36 yards for a TD. Nico Razo's extra point made it 10-0 with 1:52 left before halftime.
In the third quarter, Izzy Duncan, who made three sacks overall, stripped the ball from Viramontes and forced a 6-yard fumble return to the Chaffey 9. Micah Mendoza plowed in on a 1-yard TD run and a 17-0 Lancers lead.
Rigby kicked a 36-yard field goal just four seconds into the fourth quarter and Razo split the uprights on a 28-yard FG to put the game out of reach.
"Our defense might be the best I've ever coached," said a pleased Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker. "We started fast with Eli's interception, but didn't get too high emotionally. When we made that special teams error that led to Chaffey getting the ball at the 5, we were able to fight back and get that big blocked field goal. Our number one goal on defense is to create disruption, and we did that all night. We got nine sacks, we were physical against the run, highly efficient on stopping them on third downs, and solid in the red zone. Those are all great goals that we work toward."
The Lancers allowed just 12.8 points per game this season, holding opponents to just 33 total points in the first half of their 10 games played (one forfeit win over Desert).
On the perfect season, Tucker remarked: "Going 11-0 is very special. I'm really proud of the team and coaching staff. They stayed focused on the team goal the entire season. I loved how consistent we were every game and especially in this bowl win. A season we will always remember."
Tucker has become the "American Guru" as he has coached PCC to a 34-9 overall record in four seasons directing the program at the SCFA American Division level, including three league titles and two bowl championships. In the last two seasons alone, PCC is 20-2. It's his second AD crown as he also performed an 11-0 run when he coached at LA Valley College in 2016.
The team's SCFA and All-Region/State awards and team season highlights will be announced on this website in the next two weeks.
AMERICAN BOWL NOTES: The bowl game is the first hosted on-campus bowl since the 1992 Rose City Classic Bowl, won by the Lancers, 28-27, over Desert played at then Horrell Field. Robinson Stadium became the team's new home in 1999...Chaffey's Viramontes, under pressure all night by a relentless PCC pass rush, was the Panthers' Player of the Game as he finished with 272 yards and a touchdown pass...PCC won despite totaling just 81 yards of offense although it had 32 lost yards on the errant punt snap play...Fox had 45 yards rushing in four attempts and caught three passes. He led the team in scoring this year with 11 touchdowns, three on kick returns...Rigby was 2-for-2 on field goals, had one touchback on kickoffs, and kicked three punts that landed inside the 20. He had a long of 53 yards. He was 13-for-18 on field goals this season...The 1977 national champion and Junior Rose Bowl champion Lancers were the last PCC team before the 2024 squad to win 11 games in a season (11-1). PCC Hall of Famers and former NFL talents Mike Lansford and Jim Wilks were members of that squad....PCC Dean of Kiniesiology, Health & Athletics Dr. Timi Brown presented the postgame awards. She had done the same a year ago as Chaffey's then athletic director when the Panthers went undefeated at 11-0 in 2024.
