Football Back To .500, Sinks Corsairs, 30-2

The Pasadena City College football team's defense put up a zero while Lancers quarterback Edward Norton passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 30-2 romp at Santa Monica College Saturday afternoon. The Lancers have won two straight games and moved back to .500 overall at 4-4.

PCC (2-1 in SCFA American Pacific League play) made the most of its offensive opportunities despite totaling only 267 yards and 12 first downs. The defense limited the Corsairs (2-6, 0-3) to only 179 total yards. The only points for SMC was when it blocked an extra point kick and returned it for a 2-point defensive conversion in the third quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter, Pasadena went ahead, 6-0, when Norton found a wide open Ahmad Lipscomb (see photo) for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 7:32 left in the second period. The throw capped a 9-play, 91-yard drive with the big play being a 29-yard run by Norton coupled with a 15-yard personal foul penalty that got PCC past midfield in a hurry. A 15-yard scamper by Norton and a 9-yard pass to David Telles helped set up the scoring aerial. SMC blocked the extra point kick.

Bracamonte Bucio kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 9-0 after Andy Reyes returned a punt 54 yards to the SMC 11. The Lancers took that advantage into halftime.

A little more than two minutes into the third quarter, Norton broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown gallop to make it 15-0. Santa Monica blocked a second extra point and returned it for its only points of the game by Aaron Bell. On the next series, linebacker Mark Navarro intercepted SMC quarterback Jack Faringer's pass and returned it six yards to the Corsairs 25. With PCC's rotating quarterbacks it was Kade Wentz turn to produce. Wentz connected for a 13-yard TD pass to Telles that made it 22-2 with 8:46 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Lancers marched 95 yards in nine plays to cap the scoring. Norton hit James Dunn for a 29-yard pass and then the lefty hit Alex Corpus for a 26-yard TD pass. Bucio took a flip from holder Jonathan Borashan on a fake extra point kick and turned into a 2-point conversion run that built the lead to 28 points.

Overall, Norton was 4-for-10 passing for 86 yards and two TDs and he rushed for 108 yards in nine carries, including his long TD rush. It was the fourth time this season that Norton ran for more than a 100 yards as he leads the team in rushing with 640 yards (second in the APL) and six TD carries. His 657 yards passing and eight TD throws also lead the squad. He has just one interception in 86 attempts this season.

Defensively, Navarro made a team-high eight tackles to add to his team-high total of 56 tackles. Saftey Shane Andrews added eight tackles and cornerback Kaydon Spens made six tackles and broke up two passes. Linebackers Craig Francois and Drew Pendleton each recorded sacks. On special teams, Reyes returned three punts for 125 yards. 

The game was delayed in hour in beginning (2 p.m. kickoff) due to a transportation issue that prevented the Lancers team bus from leaving on time. 

This Saturday, Nov. 9, PCC looks to add to the winning streak when it hosts Los Angeles Harbor College in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Robinson Stadium. The Seahawks are tied with the Lancers for second place in the APL (each 2-1) and are 3-5 overall. They lost to Pierce, 17-2, on Saturday.