Segura runs into the history books as Pirates thump Cougars

LOS ANGELES -- The football tenure of J.P. Segura didn't start off too well, but it's ending in style as he set a new single-game rushing record with 303 rushing yards on 40 carries with five touchdowns to lead the Orange Coast College football team to a 47-6 American Metro Division win over L.A. Southwest College on Saturday night.

After a physical setback halted his 2019 season and COVID-19 squashed the 2020 season for everyone, Segura found himself as the primary running back on a young football team in 2021. With his confidence gaining with every contest, he entered 2022 with lofty expectations from his coach Bubba Gonzalez, and the 5'6 back has not disappointed.

"There aren't enough words to say about J.P.," Gonzalez said of Segura. "He and the run game have been our strength all year and I am happy he was able to have a big game. For him to break the single-game rushing record is a huge accomplishment for him and the offensive linemen and tight ends. I believe J.P. is the best back in the league and tonight, he proved it again. He was able to endure an injury in 2019 and COVID in 2020 and that shows the type of player that he is."

The previous record of 275 yards was set way back in 1956 by Bill Harrison against American River College and it was the longest-standing single-game record still standing ... until tonight.

Segura started strong with 115 rushing yards IN THE FIRST QUARTER and 210 for the half. With the second half trimmed to 10-minute quarters due to the amount of players available on the LASW roster, Segura went to work in the third and fourth quarters. With 66 yards remaining to break the record, it was a matter of when, not if, for Segura. Finally, late in the third quarter, a 37-yard scamper pushed Segura into the record books. A few more positive carries later, and Segura became the first-ever Pirate to rush for over 300 yards in a single game.

Segura's five rushing TDs also tied a school record (shared with Eric Washington in 1992 and Ray Holley in 2009) and the 41 first-half points tied a team record set in 1974 against West L.A. OCC's 328 yards of rushing offense was the first 300-yard team total since the 2014 Pirates rushed for 315 against Grossmont.

With his big night, Segura also surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season (1,014), becoming the first OCC back to accomplish that feat since Dominic Betts set the school record with 1,772 yards back in 2011. He's just the ninth RB since 1962 to surpass 1,000 yards for a single season. For his two-year career, Segura currently sits eighth on OCC's all-time list with 1,563 rushing yards.

Quarterback Baylor Ayers made the most of his 10 pass attempts, completing eight for 122 yards and two TD strikes to Glenn Atkins and Isaiah Alonzo. 

"I'm proud of the way the team played tonight," Gonzalez said. "My guys have worked hard all year and glad they were able to celebrate with a win."

Coast will return to action on Saturday at home against West L.A. in the season finale, beginning at 6 p.m.