It wasn't the prettiest of wins for the Cerritos College football team on Saturday night, but a 33-0 National Division victory is nothing to scoff at. The Falcons limited visiting Pasadena City College to just 25 yards rushing and 134 total yards, while racking up 423 yards of their own. The ugly part of the night was that Cerritos (4-1, 2-0) fumbled a school-record 10 times (losing four), including an improbable fumble on a punt return when the ball rolled out of the end zone after freshman D.J. Reed (Independence HS) lost the ball while attempting a front flip as he reached the goal line. The touchdown would have been overturned anyway, due to a Cerritos penalty.

But while the offense had difficulty hanging on to the ball, the defense was wreaking havoc on the Lancers (0-5, 0-2), as they recorded a safety on consecutive possessions and also posted five quarterback sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

Cerritos opened the scoring one series after turning the ball over on downs deep in Pasadena City territory when a failed snap on fourth down resulted in a turnover. The Falcons received the ball deep in Lancer territory after sophomore defensive tackle David Fangupo (Kealakehe, HI HS) picked off a Marc Peart pass at the PCC 11-yard line and brought it back to the 4-yard line. On the ensuing drive after turning the ball over due to their fourth down fumble, the Cerritos defense forced a punt from the 4-yard line after the Lancers were called for three straight penalties.

Taking over possession at the Pasadena City 38-yard line, sophomore quarterback Jimmy Walker (Redlands HS) connected with sophomore wide receiver Steven White (Manchester, VA HS) for 35 yards on the first play of the drive. Two plays later, freshman running back Kishawn Holmes (Vista Murrieta HS) scored from two yards out. Early in the second quarter, the Falcons went on an 8-play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard run by sophomore running back Robert Gordon (Terrebonne, LA HS). The scoring play was set up by a 46-yard strike from Walker to sophomore De'Jai Whitaker (Santa Monica HS).

On their third score of the first half, Cerritos used the run to get into the red zone, as Holmes accounted for 52 yards on two plays before Walker and White finished the drive with a three-yard strike.

The Falcon defense did an exceptional job of shutting down the Lancers all night, as sophomore linebacker Keith Walker (Mayfair HS) recorded 10 of his 11 tackles in the first half and also added a quarterback sack and broke up a pass. On the night, 14 different players had a hand in a tackle for loss, as the team recorded 15, with Walker, Fangupo and sophomore defensive tackle Raymon Price (Long Beach Poly HS) each posting two. The team also broke up nine passes and saw 28 different players involved in at least one tackle.

On the ground, Holmes finished with 135 yards on 11 carries, while Walker concluded the night completing 10-of-21 passes for 198 yards and one score. White finished with five catches for 96 yards.

The shutout win over the Lancers was the first for the Falcons since a 26-0 win in 1961 and the fourth win in a row against Pasadena City. Cerritos also set a new single-game record with their 10 fumbles, breaking the old mark of eight fumbles against Phoenix College in 1966. Four of the miscues happened during the center-quarterback exchange, as the Falcons have been forced to make adjustments to their front line due to injuries.

Photos by Daryl Peterson