When freshman running back Rhamondre Stevenson (Centennial, NV HS) broke off a 63-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Cerritos College football team would post a win over Moorpark College. However, the Raiders converted a fourth down and two plays later scored on a 28-yard run by Desmond Davis with 1:48, which turned out to be the winning touchdown in a 25-21 National Northern League loss by the Falcons (3-6, 1-3) on Saturday night. Cerritos will close out their season next Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. game at Ventura College.

On the Cerritos scoring play by Stevenson, he took the ball over left tackle and broke into open territory after running through two packs of would-be tacklers. As he was on his way to the end zone, he received a great block from sophomore wide receiver Stacy Chukwumezie (Downey HS). Leading 19-18 after the touchdown, the Falcons decided to go for a two-point conversion. On the play, freshman quarterback Isaiah Bravo (West Covina HS) handed the ball off to sophomore Vincent Brown (Artesia HS). Continuing the play, Brown lateraled back to Bravo, who broke one tackle to get into the end zone to give Cerritos a 21-18 lead.

On the ensuing drive by Moorpark, the Falcon defense stuffed Davis for a four-yard loss when freshman defensive end Jordan Thomas (Norwalk HS) who was in the backfield at the same time as the handoff. After a pair of incomplete passes by Tanner Darling, he connected with Ryan Matlock on a fourth down play for 22 yards, putting the ball at the Cerritos 33-yard line. Two plays later, Davis broke through the line of scrimmage and raced into the end zone for a touchdown.

Cerritos had one last chance to win the game, but three incomplete passes from Bravo, along with a pair of holding penalties forced them into a fourth-and-12 on the final play of the game. Bravo was forced out of the pocket and his pass came up short, ending the game.

The loss spoiled several outstanding defensive performances by the Falcons, as both Devan Burrell (Centennial, NV HS) and Isaiah Walton (Orange Lutheran HS) each posted 11 tackles, while Shaun Swayne (La Mirada HS) recorded eight stops and a tackle for loss. The team recorded seven tackles for loss by seven different players. Offensively, Stevenson rushed for a season-high 112 yards, with sophomore Querale Hall (Mayfair HS) adding 64 yards on the ground. Bravo completed 11-of-25 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns, with Chukwumezie and sophomore tight end Kevin Ventura-Cortez (Savanna HS/Santa Ana College) each pulling in scoring passes.

Photos by Daryl Peterson