The Santa Monica College Corsairs blocked a potentially game-winning field goal with less then 18 seconds remaining to seal the road win at Pasadena City College (PCC). Freshman Chance Thomas (CB) burst through the right side of the field goal alignment knocking the ball off line.
The Corsairs jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on two touchdown passes from Paul Davis (So, QB) to Trevor Nofoa (So, WR.) Pasadena responded with two field goals and a touchdown to close the lead to 14-13. Christoph Hirota (So, RB), running behind formations featuring six offensive linemen, got the running game back on track with over 80 yards including an 8-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to 21-13 before halftime.
The second half saw Pasadena score a touchdown in each quarter taking a 26-21 lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Both teams traded punts before the Corsairs converted a 2nd and 22 for a touchdown pass from Davis intended for Brandon Collins (Fr, WR) that was tipped to Jaden McBride (Fr, WR) who took the ball into the endzone.
Pasadena took the ensuing drive all the way inside the Corsair 20 yard line before attempting the deciding 35-yard field goal.
Nofoa led the Corsairs with 190 total yards and two touchdowns including a 56-yard catch and run over the middle of the field on the team's second drive. Jordan Lawrence led the SMC defense with 26 total tackles which included 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. The Corsair defense was also helped by two takeaways when Thomas intercepted a pass in the second quarter and Victor Rivera (Fr, DL) ripped the ball out of the Pasadena ball carrier's arm.
Special Teams for the Corsairs continued their big play making ways this week. In addition to the deciding field goal block the Corsairs had another fumble recovery by the punt team, partially blocked a punt and had four kick-off returns out across the 40-yard line averaging 33 yards a return for the game.
COMING UP: Next week the Corsairs travel to Santa Barbara City College for a 1 p.m. American Pacific league game. On November 10, the Corsairs will host a Military Appreciation Day to honor both active duty and veterans of the US Armed Forces.
NOTES: Yesterday's win over PCC is the Corsairs second win in three weeks over a top 10 ranked American Division opponent... The Corsairs are the least penalized team in all of Southern California with only 30 penalties accepted this season for an average of 28.8 yards per game. That 28.8 yards per game also leads the entire state… The SMC Defense is currently ranked 6th in the state in pass defense yards allowed per game with 150.6 yards per game... The Santa Monica kick-off return team is ranked 6th in Southern California in average yards per return on the season with 25.3. That is also good for ranking in the Top 10 in the entire state… Jordan Lawrence is leading the entire state with 13.9 tackles per game. This is the second straight season a Corsair LB has led the state in tackles after Chris Wein (who has since transferred to Harding University) averages over 14 per game last year… Paul Davis is second in the American Pacific league with 9 TD passes on the season… Nofoa and Dajone Averett (FR, WR) are both averaging over 100 all-purpose yards per game, ranking them both in the top 15 in Southern California… Hirota is averaging 66 yards per game on the ground ranking him in the top 20 of Southern California