Sunday, September 15, 2024

College Football: Aztecs Struggle in Berkeley, Local JuCos victorious

SAN DIEGO MESA 12, Cerritos 8

San Diego Mesa emerged victorious in a close contest against Cerritos (0-1). The game remained scoreless until the third quarter when the Olympians (2-0) took a 3-0 lead with a field goal. The fourth quarter saw a flurry of action, with San Diego Mesa extending their lead to 5-0 via a safety. Cerritos then surged ahead 8-5 thanks to a 33-yard touchdown pass from Evan Tomich to Isaiah Blair, followed by a successful two-point conversion.

However, San Diego Mesa had the final say, clinching the win with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jax Leatherwood (Scripps Ranch) to Santiago Salas (Mission Hills). Despite Cerritos outgaining San Diego Mesa in total offense (312 yards to 166 yards), San Diego Mesa's defense proved crucial, recording 13 tackles for loss. Evan Tomich of Cerritos had a strong showing, completing 23 of 39 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, with Isaiah Blair being his primary target, catching 6 passes for 128 yards and a score.

PALOMAR 14, El Camino 10

In a defensive battle, the Palomar Comets (1-1) edged out a win over the El Camino Warriors (1-1). Former San Marcos High standout Mason Thomas set the tone early for Palomar with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown. El Camino quickly responded with a two-yard rushing score by Azeon Nelson. The teams traded scores in the second quarter, with El Camino taking a brief 10-7 lead on a field goal before Lincoln High alum KJ Chatham connected with Skai Donnell on a 66-yard touchdown pass to regain the advantage. The Comets' defense held strong throughout the second half, with key contributions from Steven Arteaga, who had 19 tackles, and Isaiah Strong, who added 14. Despite El Camino outgaining Palomar in total yardage, the defense kept El Camino off the board in the second half to secure the victory.

GROSSMONT 24, Antelope Valley 12

The Grossmont Griffins (1-1) claimed its first win of the season with a victory over Antelope Valley (0-2), led by St. Augustine alum Isaiah Pressley’s dynamic performance. Pressley opened the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and later added a four-yard rushing score in the second quarter. Grossmont built a 21-0 lead by halftime with help from a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jaden Green to Shjon Mosser. Antelope Valley fought back with two touchdown passes, including a 36-yard strike to Jacob Lopez, but Grossmont’s defense held firm, with Lincoln High alum Adrien Chargaloff securing an interception. Camden Vance’s third-quarter field goal sealed the game, as Grossmont’s defense notched seven sacks and forced four turnovers.

The game between Southwestern and San Bernardino Valley was postponed due to wildfire health concerns.

California 31, SAN DIEGO STATE 10

The San Diego State Aztecs (1-2) fell to California (3-0) at Memorial Stadium, with the Golden Bears' dominant offense and efficient defense proving too much for the Aztecs. Freshman quarterback Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson made his first career start for SDSU, completing 13-of-29 passes for 156 yards, including his first career touchdown, but also threw two interceptions. Cal capitalized early, putting up a first-quarter touchdown and never relinquishing the lead.

Marquez Cooper led the Aztecs’ rushing attack with 87 yards on 22 carries, bringing his season total to 363 yards. Despite a strong defensive effort by SDSU, which recorded six sacks, Cal's offense, combined with two key interceptions and a late surge, sealed the game. Jordan Napier provided a highlight for the Aztecs with a 53-yard touchdown catch in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as California cruised to a comfortable victory.

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