Pirates can't contain Griffins, lose 49-31
EL CAJON -- The Orange Coast College football team could not take advantage of a strong start and saw its three-game win streak halted at the hands of Grossmont College, 49-31, on Saturday at Mashin-Roth Stadium.
The Pirates (3-2, 1-1 in Southern Conference) jumped out to a 10-0 lead just five minutes into the game. Coast used a 45-yard field goal by Jackson Dionne to take a 3-0 lead on the Pirates' first possession of the game.
Austin Bennett forced and recovered a Griffins' fumble and Coast was right back in business. Four plays later, quarterback Jon Newsom hooked up with Tyler Duncan for a 12-yard touchdown, putting the Pirates up 10-0.
But it was all Grossmont (4-1, 2-0) the rest of the way. The Griffins slowed down the Pirates' offense and scored 35 straght points to take the lead for good.
After cutting the OCC lead to 10-7, a costly fumble by Robert Penny was quickly cashed in when GC quarterback Chris Bonner hooked up with Traivonne Brown on a 42-yard touchdown strike, putting the Griffins up 14-10.
Despite 490 yards of total offense (302 passing, 188 rushing), four costly OCC turnovers were too much to overcome. The Griffins' offense amassed 529 total yards, while their defense totaled seven sacks, three fumbles (two recovered) and two interceptions.
Newsom finished the afternoon with 237 yards passing on 17-of-34 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Backup quarterback Cameron Biedgoly threw for 65 yards on 7-of-11 passing with one TD and one INT.
Buzzy Yokoyama brought in eight passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, while Cameron Blaylock added two catches for 70 yards.
Running back Robert Penny continued his impressive season with 121 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
Bonner finished the day with 247 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-35 passing with two interceptions. The receptions were spread out for Grossmont as Dangelo Bowie (three catches, 63 yards), Alex Cornist (3-59) and Nickolas Kurtz (4-43, 1 TD) were the main targets.
On the ground, Cornist and Treyous Jarrells combined for 21 carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pirates will return to action on Saturday against College of the Desert, beginning at 1 p.m.
