With just 15:00 remaining in their National Central League opener against host Chaffey College on Saturday night, the Cerritos College football team found themselves trailing, 17-16. But by the final whistle, the Falcons had added 27 points to their total and walked away with a 43-17 win, snapping their three-game losing skid. The team will now host El Camino College at 6:00 p.m. next Saturday.

The Panthers (0-6, 0-1) had just scored touchdowns on two consecutive possessions to take a 17-16 lead before Cerritos started to get things moving on offense. On their next drive, the Falcons moved into Chaffey territory thanks to their ground game, with a Panthers penalty added in. Faced with a third-and-seven at the Chaffey 10-yard line, freshman quarterback Jordan Simpson (Gahr HS) was able to scramble out of the pocket and race into the end zone for a touchdown. A two-point completion from Simpson to freshman wide receiver Luca Caldarella (Valley Christian HS) give the Falcons a 24-17 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Chaffey's Zachary McClendon mishandled the ball and tried to bring it out from the one-yard line. He was stopped at the three-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, sophomore linebacker Victor Clanton (JSerra HS) stuffed Tyon Crook in the end zone for a safety and a 26-17 advantage.

The free kick by Chaffey was brought back to midfield by sophomore Bijon Harris (Bellflower HS), giving the Falcons great field position. Faced with third-and-three, freshman running back Penieli Lauago (La Mirada HS) picked up two yards on the next two plays to keep the drive going. Looking at another third and long situation, Simpson was able to find Lauago swinging around the outside down the sideline, which resulted in a 37-yard touchdown catch and run.

After the Cerritos defense shut Chaffey down again, sophomore Iyen Medlock (Valley, NV HS) returned a punt 30 yards, setting the Falcons up for their third touchdown of the quarter. Returning to the game, freshman quarterback Cade McConnell (Los Alamitos HS) completed a third down pass to sophomore running back Billy Moore (Norwalk HS/East Los Angeles College), who came out of the backfield and found an opening in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard scoring reception.

Caldarella, who caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from McConnell in the first quarter, was one of three players to catch TD passes, as McConnell (16-for-26, 141 yards, 2 TD) and Simpson (6-for-13, 80 yards) combined to thow for 221 yards and three scores. Simpson added his 10-yard rushing touchdown, while freshman Davon Booth (El Monte HS) and sophomore J'lon Manning (Bellflower HS) combined for 77 yards on the ground.

One of the keys to the Falcons win was their kicking game, as freshman Moz Bojorquez (Mayfair HS) made sure the team's offensive drives didn't go without points, as he was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goals, while freshman Abraham Delgadillo (Gahr HS) converted three extra points. The four field goals by Bojorquez ties the school record for most field goals in a game. The only other times it was accomplished were by Tom Martin in 1978 against Mt. San Antonio College and in 1985 by Claudio Balboa against San Diego Mesa College.

Sophomore free safety DeMario King (Los Alamitos HS) led the defense with eight stops, while he also broke up a pass and forced a fumble, with Reddy recording six stops and had a quarterback sack. The secondary also received five tackles from strong safety Cameron Minor (Mayfair HS), while defensive backs Cody Coleman (Narbonne HS/Northern Arizona University) and LaVario Wiley (Banning HS) both checked in with four tackles.