On several occasions during the season, the Cerritos College defense has come up with big plays to preserve victories. Leading 30-27 in the final minute of their Southern California Playoff game against rival Long Beach City College, the defense posted two straight quarterback sacks, coupled by a Viking penalty to leave them in a 3rd-and-28 situation at the Falcon 49-yard line. More pressure from the defensive line wasn't enough, as Vikings quarterback Jack Lowary scrambled and launched a 47-yard completion to the game's MVP Mike Wilson, placing the ball at the Falcons 2-yard line. Lowary the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player, scored one the next play with :34 seconds left, which resulted in a 34-30 LBCC win. Wilson finished with nine receptions for 197 yards.

The loss by the Falcons (8-3), who were seeded #2 for the playoffs, was their sixth loss in the last two seasons by less than a touchdown. LB City (10-1) advances to the Southern California Championship Game and will travel to Saddleback College next Saturday.

Cerritos looked to be in good shape in the third quarter, as they were leading 23-10 after a Deon Smalls (Fitzgerald, GA HS) tackle in the end zone resulted in a safety. It was the second big play on defense, with cornerback D.J. Reed (Independence HS) returning a Lowary (24-for-46, 350 yards) interception 74 yards for a touchdown late in the first half for a 21-10 advantage heading into halftime.

After Long Beach City scored 17 points in the span of 2:25 for a 27-23 lead, the Falcons offensive struggles continued. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Walker (Redlands HS) was picked off three times on the night and was unable to connect with record-breaking wide receiver De'Jai Whitaker (Santa Monica HS). Whitaker was limited to just two receptions for 79 yards.

With 8:06 left in the fourth quarter, Cerritos took over possession of the ball at their own 20-yard line. On third and five, Walker (8-for-23, 134 yards) hit sophomore receiver Steven White (Manchester, VA HS) across the middle for 17 yards to keep their drive going. Freshman running back Jason Floyd (Lakewood HS) followed with a 20-yard run to put the ball at the LBCC 38-yard line. On third and two, Floyd rushed for four yards, while Walker capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Dashawn Gordon (Los Alamitos HS/Northwest Oklahoma State University) for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:08 left on the clock.

But each time the Cerritos defense would put the Vikings in a hole, they were able to dig out of it with a big third down conversion. They kept their game-winning drive alive with three third down conversions and were successful on 11-of-20 on the night.

After the LBCC go-ahead drive, the Falcons ran the ball three times, with freshman Kishawn Holmes (Vista Murrieta HS) accounting for all 28 yards. On the game's final play, Walker had his pass deflected at the goal line into the hands of freshman Delvin Mosley (Long Beach Jordan HS) at the five-yard line, who was tackled immediately, which ended the game.

Cerritos opened the game with a pair of trick plays they had not attempted all season. The first was a reversal on the opening kickoff that resulted in an extra 25 yards for sophomore Robert Gordon (Terrebonne, LA HS). On the first play from scrimmage, Floyd took the halfback option and threw a 43-yard strike to Whitaker, who scored untouched for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Falcon defense pressured Lowary all night and recorded 11 quarterback hurries, with eight tackles for loss and four sacks. In addition to Defensive MVP Keith Walker (Mayfair HS), who led the way with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, two hurries and a sack, sophomore David Fangupo (Kealakehe, HI HS) was in the backfield to the tune of four hurries, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 1/5 sacks and a forced fumble to go with his six tackles. As for free safety Elijah Walker (Cabrillo HS), he contributed nine tackles with Smalls ending with eight stops.

Photos by Daryl Peterson