Cougars’ Turnovers Prove Costly vs. Pasadena

Despite outgaining Pasadena City College on offense, turnovers and penalties proved too much to overcome as the Cougars lost its Southern California Football Association Northern League opener, 20-12 at Cougar Stadium on Saturday night.

Five total turnovers, including four fumbles, and 12 penalties for 127 yards are the numbers that stand out on a stat sheet that also showed the Cougars dominating the rushing game and yards per play average.

The scoring started in the second quarter when Pasadena capitalized on a COC fumble that gave the Lancers a short field. A personal foul penalty against the Cougars would move the ball to the COC 6-yard line and Pasadena's Timothy Jones would run for a touchdown on the very next play. Lancers led 7-0 after the extra point.

Just before the end of the first half, Cougar penalties and another turnover gave Pasadena another short field to add to their lead. Pasadena place kicker Franklyn Cervanka's 42-yard field goal would end the half with the Cougars down 10-0.

The Cougars' first drive of the second half saw them put together a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a Da'John Gaines touchdown run to cut the Pasadena lead to 10-6. The extra point attempt, however, was blocked and returned 98 yards for a 2-point conversion. The two points gave the Lancers a 12-6 lead.

COC's defense held Pasadena to just 71 yards in the third quarter and gave the offense a chance to continue to chip away at their deficit. COC's Da'John Gaines ran for his second touchdown of the game on a 6-yard handoff to tie the game 12-12. An Eric Krietz extra point went wide leaving COC unable to take the lead.

Another Cougar turnover would fuel Pasadena's final scoring play in the fourth quarter. An Earl Johnson fumble near midfield gave Pasadena the ball with 8:48 left in the game. Two plays later, Lancers quarterback Dejon Williams' 44-yard touchdown pass to Turner Jacks put Pasadena back up by six points. A Dejon Williams 2-point conversion put them up 20-12.

A late interception of a Tony Dawson pass on the Cougars last drive of the game ended any hopes of a comeback sending COC to defeat against its conference rival.

Offensively, COC outgained Pasadena on the ground — 201 rushing yards to Pasadena's 125 rushing yards. Unfortunately for the Cougars, Pasadena led the game with points off turnovers, scoring all 20 points off COC mistakes.

COC's defense only allowed 224 total yards on offense, allowing a 3.4 average gain per play. Linebacker Paul Puebla led the Cougars in tackling with nine total tackles including one for a loss of yards. Linebacker Spencer Viening added four tackles including the team's only quarterback sack.

The loss drops COC's overall record to 1-3, and 0-1 in conference play.

College of the Canyons travels to Bakersfield, California to play Bakersfield College at 6 p.m. Saturday Oct. 4.