A four-hour bus ride is never fun. Just ask the Southwestern College football team as it headed up to Woodland Hills for last Saturday’s non-conference game against L.A. Pierce.
“Getting off the bus we were hit in the face with intense heat,” SWC head coach Ed Carberry explained. “Just passing UCLA the temperature jumped 15 degrees. We extended the start of the game to 6:15 p.m. Our trainers did a great job getting the team ready to go.”
And the Jaguars indeed got going. The visitors racked up 23 first-half points to record a 42-13 victory. With the win, Southwestern improves to 3-0 in advance of Saturday’s non-conference game against Pasadena City (2-1). Kick off is 6 p.m. at DeVore Stadium.
“It was a very physical game played by our defense,” Carberry explained. “We shut down their threat as a passing game and focused on their running game.
“Offensively we had an explosion from Iman Chatman-Dixon (Mater Dei Catholic) with nine catches in the first half and two touchdowns.”
Sophomore quarterback Mike Glass completed three touchdown passes, with two more called back due to penalties. Glass finished the game 14-of-24 for 219 yards.
Joe Joe Hudson completed seven of 14 passing attempts for 61 yards and one touchdown. Neither SWC quarterback threw an interception in the game.
Marquis Williams rushed six times for 50 yards and scored one touchdown. His longest run from scrimmage was 31 yards.
Ryan Stokes caught five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns while Chatman-Dixon had nine catches for 112 yards and two scores.
Aeden Johnson converted four of five extra-point tries and also booted a pair of field goals (29 and 26 yards) to further the Jaguars’ chances of winning the game. Johnson averaged 58.9 yards on eight kick-offs, recording two touchbacks.
Southwestern out-gained L.A. Pierce 466-188 in total yards.
Jaquille Bradford led the winners with 10 tackles while Rasheed Farha and Tyler Bell each had one sack and Davelle Fox had one fumble recovery. Williams had an interception return for 47 yards, though he did not score.
Carberry noted that sophomore safety/return specialist Donnell Pleasant (Lincoln) had a punt return for a touchdown that was called back.
The Jags led, 29-3, at one point in the second half.
“When we put two halves together we can beat anyone,” Carberry said.
Players of the game
•Offense: Ryan Stokes (receiver)
•Defense: Rasheed Farha (defensive lineman)
•Special teams: Ethan Willliams (cornerback)
By the numbers
Stokes caught scoring passes of 28 and 27 yards from Glass while Chatman-Dixon caught a 29-yard scoring pass from Glass and a nine-yard TD pass from Hudson.
Marquis Williams scored on a five-yard run.
Ethan Williams racked up 112 yards on three kick returns.
L.A. Pierce fell to 1-2 with the loss.
American Mountain Standings
(Non-conference games)
Southwestern 3-0
Mt. San Jacinto 2-0
Victor Valley 1-1
College of the Desert 1-2
San Diego Mesa 1-2
San Bernardino Valley 0-3
