Southwestern College’s football team moves into its bye week with a 3-2 record following last Saturday’s 16-3 non-conference win over the Citrus College Owls.
The game opened with what proved to be the dominant play of the game, according to Jaguars head coach Ed Carberry, when receiver Nick Sexton (Christian High School) hit receiver Ryan Stokes (Florrisant McCleur North High School, Mo.) on a double pass that measured 54 yards.
The pass play that took 11 seconds to execute would hold up the majority of the game with Southwestern holding onto a 10-0 lead.
“Our offensive line was overwhelmed most of the night as the Owls blitzed the majority of downs,” Carberry said.
The only other points of the first half came when Christopher Gomez kicked a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
While the SWC offense was tested, the Jaguars’ defense dominated the game with five interceptions and, according to Carberry, “too many tackles for losses to keep track of.”
Otay Ranch High School alumnus Sergio Ayon had another huge game with 11 tackles, including five unassisted tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.
“Freshman defensive end Duran Miller (Mount Miguel) chased the Citrus quarterback and running back down from the backside using his speed,” Carberry noted. “Our middle linebacker who could be a player of the game on any game day, Shaquez Bond (Decatur McArthur High School, Ill.) switched from wide receiver on Monday. He had two interceptions on the night.”
Citrus (1-3) narrowed the score to 10-3 on a 27-yard field goal by Diego Morales with 1:13 elapsed in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore safety Rickey Barfield (Florroisant McCluer North) secured the victory for the Jags with a backbreaking 46-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:27 to play in the game.
On special teams, freshman punter Dean Smith (Eastlake) kept Citrus out of scoring distance with precision punts.
The numbers outlined the defensive nature of the game: Southwestern totaled 120 yards in offense to 70 for Citrus. The running game was negligible for both teams: nine yards for the Owls and just six yards for the Jaguars.
Isaiah Strayhorn (Eastlake) led SWC with 10 carries for 21 yards while Demonte Morris rushed seven times for 12 yards.
Joshua Cartwright completed nine of 13 passing attempts for 54 yards while Morris completed three of five passing attempts for 25 yards.
Stokes had four catches for 81 yards while Camron Lewis had one catch for 36 yards. Sexton had three catches for 15 yards.
The teams combined for 18 punts in the game. Smith punted eight times for a 35.4-yard average with two punts landing inside the Owls’ 20-yard line.
Marco Sanchez averaged 50.3 yards on four kick-offs.
Jalen Nelson and Jaylon Candler also had interceptions on defense. The Jags recorded eight sacks, including two by Steven Mason, to punctuate the win.
Southwestern returns to action Oct. 14 at Victor Valley College (3-1). San Diego Mesa is off to a 4-1 record to top American Mountain Division teams in the non-league standings.
The Olympians hold down the No. 1 ranking among Southern California’s American Division teams, followed by Victor Valley and L.A. Valley (3-1).
Southwestern is ranked fourth in the current poll.
Team leaders
Passing: Joshua Cartwright 108.8 yards per game, 5 TD
Receiving: Camron Lewis 69.0 yards per game, 2 TD
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College report
- San Diego State University remained 19thin the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll following last Saturday’s 34-29 non-conference victory against Northern Illinois University in front of 35,717 fans at SDCCU Stadium.
- The No. 19 spot matches the Aztecs’ highest ranking since 1978. SDSU has now been ranked in three straight AP polls for the first time since the final three polls of the 1977 campaign.
- SDSU is 5-0 for the first time since 1975 and for just the second time in the last 47 seasons.
- San Diego State’s win over NIU was highlighted by a plus-four turnover advantage, a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Juwan Washington on the game’s first play, an 83-yard interception return by Tariq Thompson and two touchdowns passes by quarterback Christian Chapman.
- Thompson (St. Augustine) had two picks in the game. Rashaad Penny, the team’s early season star, scored on a pass play before receiving an eye injury during the game.
- Washington was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week after recording his second career kick return for a score, second overall touchdown this year and 10thoverall score for his career. He totaled 115 all-purpose yards on just five touches in the game (23.0 average per touch).
- San Diego State leads the nation in kick return average (39.13 yards).
- Olympian High School graduate Collin Andrews, a freshman wide receiver, made his first catch of the season — and Aztec career — for 11 yards in the win over NIU.
- The Aztecs, who have won seven consecutive games (13 of their last 15 contests and 26 of their last 29 games), carry a 1-0 conference record into their next Mountain West game on Saturday, Oct. 7, at UNLV (1-0 conference, 2-2). Game time is 7:45 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
- The University of San Diego defeated the host Dayton Flyers, 23-7, in a Pioneer Football League game on Sept. 30 to improve to 2-0 in conference play, 3-2 overall.
- Quarterback Anthony Lawrence (Grossmont High School) passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Toreros to their second consecutive win of the season.
- USD has a bye next weekend before returning to Torero Stadium on Oct.14 for its annual homecoming/family weekend game against the Morehead State Eagles.
- Eastlake High School alumnus Isiah Olave recorded six tackles (four unassisted tackles), a half-sack and one pass break-up in UC Davis’ 48-24 win over visiting North Dakota on Sept. 30. The Aggies improved to 3-2 with the victory.
Through five games (all starts), Olaves has recorded 19 tackles (12 unassisted tackles), 1.5 sacks, one pass deflection and four pass break-ups.
- Frank Buncom IV (St. Augustine) had four tackles (one unassisted tackle) in Stanford’s 34-24 Pac-12 win over visiting Arizona State on Sept. 30. In five games, Buncom has 11 tackles and one pass break-up for the Cardinal (2-1 in conference, 3-2 overall).
