It’s five down and five to go for the Southwestern College football team as the team comes off its midseason bye. The Jaguars currently possess a 4-1 record as they enter National Southern Conference play.
Southwestern hosts Saddleback College on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kick-off is 6 p.m.
“We are right where we want to be,” assessed SWC head coach Ed Carberry. “As we look down the road, obviously we would like to have been 5-0. It still may happen as Fullerton may be forced to forfeit its first five games.”
An investigation is under way by the Southern California Football Association and Hornets head coach Tim Byrnes has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a published report.
Southwestern College may not be able to control Fullerton’s fate but the Jags can control their own. The team’s final five games of regular season play are all conference games, meaning each win or loss will impact the team’s ability to win the conference title and secure a berth in postseason play.
After hosting Saddleback (2-3), Southwestern will engage Grossmont College (0-5) on Oct. 20 at West Hills High School, play at Riverside College (4-1) on Oct. 27, host Golden West College (2-3) on Nov. 3 and close out regular season play with a road game at Orange Coast College (1-4) on Nov. 10.
The Jaguars have outscored opponents 161-59. Southwestern has the best point-scoring defense in the conference and the second-best point-scoring offense (after Riverside).
“Our defense and special teams have done the job,” Carberry said. “Our offense came out the game fast and needs to get back on track. The kicking game has continued to improve. We have become a bit one dimensional… the offense needs to improve on it’s overall balance.”
The Southwestern passing game is still looking to break out with 482 passing yards between six players who have thrown forward passes to go with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Sophomore Demonte Morris leads the group with 235 passing yards in four games with one touchdown and one interception to his credit.
Next up in the yardage department is freshman Thomas Fishburne with 135 passing yards in three games with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Sophomore Marcus Hernandez-Torrez has thrown for 45 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in three games.
Freshman Deandre Daniels leads a SWC rushing attack that by comparison has generated 774 yards on the ground in five games with 15 rushing touchdowns. Daniels, a former Saintsman, has rushed for 544 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns while fumbling just once. He leads the team with 111.2 all-purpose yards per game.
Freshman Terrell Johnson is next up with 130 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Morris has rushed for 68 yards with one touchdown and two lost fumbles.
Sophomore Paden Hazuga (Mar Vista) leads Jaguars receivers with 12 catches for 166 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Tyler Adderly has caught eight passes for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore kicker Jaime Medina (Point Loma) has made three of eight field goal attempts (38 percent) and 17 of 19 extra-point conversions (89 percent). He is averaging 36.0 yards on punts with 14 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
The defensive statistics tell more of the tale for Southwestern’s strong start to the 2018 community college football season.
The Jags have recorded 24 sacks, 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries while allowing an average of 11.8 points per game.
“Everyone is excited about the second half and looking forward to it,” Carberry said.
The Southwestern coach has the following commentary on his team’s upcoming opponents:
- Saddleback — “struggling a bit but the teams they have lost to are SoCal elite teams.”
- Grossmont – “has struggled to an 0-5 record but will be ready to go with their best effort. A win for the Jags would make us kings of San Diego County … their season is our game. We must be ready.”
- Riverside — “an elite team.”
- Golden West — “a great team with the ability to play with the elite teams.”
- Orange Coast – “struggled with a new coach.”
In other words, go Jags!
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE LOG
September
1: Southwestern 27, San Diego Mesa 10
8: Southwestern 42, Palomar 6
15: Southwestern 40, Victor Valley 7
22: Fullerton 19, Southwestern 14
29: Southwestern 38, East Los Angeles 17
October
13: Saddleback at Southwestern, 6 p.m.
20: Saddleback at Grossmont (West Hills High School), 3 p.m.
27: Southwestern at Riverside, 6 p.m.
November
3: Golden West at Southwestern, 6 p.m.
10: Southwestern at Orange Coast, 6 p.m.
College Football 2018 Kickoff
San Diego State University defeated host Boise State, 19-13, last Saturday to kick off Mountain West play. Castle Park High School alumnus Luq Barcoo recorded two unassisted tackles and two pass break-ups in the win for the Aztecs (4-1 overall, 1-0 in conference) over the No. 24-ranked Broncos (3-2, 1-1). In three games, Barcoo has recorded six tackles and three pass break-ups.
The Aztecs, who are averaging 349.8 total offensive yards per game, will host the Air Force Academy on Friday, Oct. 12, starting at 6 p.m. at SDCCU Stadium.
In other games on Oct. 6:
- Eastlake High School alumnus Aeden Johnson was successful on five of six extra-point attempts and kicked a 37-yard field goal during the second quarter in the University of San Diego’s 51-34 win at Morehead State. Johnson averaged 63.0 yards on nine kickoffs with two touchbacks.
Former Grossmont High School standout Anthony Lawrence threw for 354 yards and five touchdowns as the Toreros (3-2 overall) improved to 2-0 in conference play.
- Former Eastlake Titan Isiah Olave made one tackle and had one pass break-up as UC Davis defeated host Northern Colorado, 49-36. On the season, Olave leads the Aggies (4-1, 2-0 in conference) with 25 total tackles. He also has logged one interception, four pass break-ups and one quarterback hurry in five games.
- Chula Vista High School alumnus Demetrious Gibbs recorded six tackles for UNLV in its 50-24 loss to visiting New Mexico. In five games for the Rebels (2-3, 0-0 in conference), Gibbs has recorded 14 tackles and one fumble recovery.
- St. Augustine High School alumnus Frank Buncom IV recorded four tackles, including three unassisted stops, in Stanford’s 40-21 loss to visiting Utah. In six games, Buncom has made 22 tackles, including 13 unassisted tackles and three pass deflections, for the Cardinal (4-2, 2-1 in conference).
NFL Star Watch
Alex Smith (Bonita Vista Middle School/Helix High School) ran for a touchdown in a 43-19 loss to the host New Orleans Saints on ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast. Smith passed for 275 yards with one interception in the game as the Redskins fell to 2-2 on the season.
In games last Sunday:
- Eastlake High School alumnus Tony Jefferson made eight unassisted tackles and assisted on another for the Baltimore Ravens in their 12-9 overtime loss to the host Cleveland Browns.
- Mater Dei Catholic alumnus Jason Myers kicked field goals of 49 and 30 yards and was successful on all four extra-point conversions as the New York Jets defeated the visiting Denver Broncos 34-16.
MLB Star Watch
Former Hilltop High School standout Greg Allen and the Cleveland Indians’ season came to an end with Monday’s 11-3 loss to the visiting Houston Astros in the American League divisional playoffs.
The defending World Series champion Astros defeated the Indians 3-0 in the team’s best-of-five series to advance to meet the Boston Red Sox in the next round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.
Allen, officially classified as a rookie, appeared in Monday’s game as a pinch hitter but grounded out in the ninth inning while batting for teammate Yandy Diaz.
The Astros won the opening two games in Houston by scores of 7-2 (last Friday) and 3-1 (on Saturday). Allen did not appear at the plate in either game.
Allen appeared in 91 regular season games for Cleveland in 2018 with a .257 hitting average, 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 21 stolen bases.
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULES
CROSS COUNTRY
October
12: Mt. SAC Invitational, 9 a.m.
20: Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship (Cal State University San Bernardino), 10 a.m.
November
3: Southern California championship (Cerritos Regional Park), 10 a.m.
17: State championship (Fresno), 10 a.m.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
October
12: Southwestern at Mt. San Jacinto, 3 p.m.
16: College of the Desert at Southwestern, 3 p.m.
19: Southwestern at San Bernardino Valley, 1 p.m.
26: Southwestern at Grossmont, 1 p.m.
30: San Diego Mesa at Southwestern, 3 p.m.
November
2: Southwestern at Cuyamaca, 3 p.m.
6: San Diego City at Southwestern, 1 p.m.
9: Southwestern at Imperial Valley, 3 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER
October
12: MiraCosta at Southwestern, 1 p.m.
16: Southwestern at Palomar, 3 p.m.
19: Southwestern at San Diego City, 3 p.m.
23: Imperial Valley at Southwestern, 3 p.m.
26: College of the Desert at Southwestern, 1 p.m.
30: Southwestern at San Bernardino Valley, 3 p.m.
November
2: Southwestern at San Diego Mesa, 7 p.m.
6: Cuyamaca at Southwestern, 3 p.m.
MEN’S WATER POLO
October
17: San Diego Mesa at Southwestern, 3:30 p.m.
19: Santa Monica mini-tournament, TBA
24: Southwestern at Grossmont, 2:30 p.m.
27: Southwestern mini-tournament, all day
November
2-3: Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championships at Southwestern, all day
8-10: Regional playoffs, TBA
16-17: State championship, TBA
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
October
17: San Diego Mesa at Southwestern, 2 p.m.
19-20: Long Beach tournament, TBA
24: Southwestern at Grossmont, 1 p.m.
November
2-3: Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championships at Southwestern, all day
8-10: Regional playoffs, TBA
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
October
12: Southwestern at San Diego City, 5 p.m.
17: Imperial Valley at Southwestern, 5 p.m.
19: Grossmont at Southwestern, 5 p.m.
24: Cuyamaca at Southwestern, 5 p.m.
26: Southwestern at San Diego Mesa. 5 p.m.
31: San Diego City at Southwestern, 6 p.m.
November
2: Southwestern at Imperial Valley, 5 p.m.
7: Crossover playoff match
13: Crossover playoff match
