In the 63-24 win recorded by the Cerritos College football team against Southwestern College, the team scored six touchdowns through the air, but added a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. The win improves the Falcons record to 4-0 for the first time since 2010, while the 63 points were the most since a 68-49 victory over Palomar College in 2019. The team is looking for their first 5-0 start since they went 8-0 in 2009, as Cerritos will host East Los Angeles College at 6:00 p.m. next Saturday.
After freshman free safety Evan Rodriguez (St. Anthony HS) stepped in front of an Ethan Henry pass and raced it back 37 yards for a touchdown, Cerritos held a 35-3 lead early in the third quarter. After the defense held the Jaguars (0-4), the offense took over at the Southwestern 40 yard line. Freshman running back Marcus Minor (Lakewood HS) broke off a 36-yard run on the first play from scrimmage before back-up freshman quarterback Aiden Sanchez (Bishop Amat HS) connected with freshman wide receiver Michael Bruner (Long Beach Wilson HS) in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. Sophomore kicker Moz Bojorquez (Mayfair HS) converted one of his nine extra points for a 42-3 advantage.
On the next possession by Southwestern, sophomore cornerback AJ Hernandez (La Mirada HS) picked off a Henry pass and went untouched 20 yards into the end zone for the second Falcons interception for touchdown. To make matters worse, the Jaguars fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Cerritos had the ball at their opponent's 13-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Sanchez, who threw three touchdown passes in relief, hit freshman wide receiver Dillon Laurer (Downey HS) from 12 yards out and put the Falcons in front, 56-3.
The lopsided score allowed the coaching staff to go deep into its bench. After the Jaguars scored their first touchdown of the game, Cerritos came right back and started in plus territory after sophomore Travys Davis (Artesia HS/Aurora, IL University) returned the kickoff 52 yards to the Southwestern 44-yard line. A pair of Minor rushes were sandwiched a 16-yard reception by Bruner. Sanchez finished his night by finding freshman tight end Emmanuel McNeal (Long Beach Millikan HS), who went up above the Southwestern defenders and pulled down a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Sophomore starting quarterback Jordan Simpson (Gahr HS) played the first half and got the scoring started with three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown before making way for Sanchez. Simpson finished the night 10-of-16 for 225 yards, while Sanchez was good on 6-of-8 passes for 65 yards, with the two combining for six scoring passes. Sophomore running back Davon Booth (El Monte HS) had the night off, with Minor (74 yards) and Davis (67 yards) leading the ground game. Freshman wide receiver Jaceon Doss (St. John Bosco HS) caught a pair of long touchdown passes from Simpson in the first half, with the first going for 66 yards and the second for 30 yards, as he pulled in four passes for 103 yards. Freshman Tyron Bates (Paramount HS) may have only caught one pass, but it went for 69 yards and a touchdown.
It was a collective defensive effort for the Falcons, with five different players turning in four tackles, with freshman free safety Chandler Nixon (La Habra HS) adding a 38-yard interception to go with his four stops. Freshmen Ronal Tebu, Jr. (Covina HS) and Samson Tupuola (Compton HS) each had a half a quarterback sack to combine with their four tackles, while the defense combined for four quarterback sacks on the night.
May 30, 2023
Football: Numbers continue to climb for Cerritos
December 16, 2022
Football: Pair of Falcons named All-American
November 29, 2022
Football: Team has 15 players named All-Conference
November 20, 2022
Football: Cerritos to face Long Beach City in the Western State Bowl
November 12, 2022
Football: Loss to Mt. SAC ends playoff hopes
November 5, 2022
Football: Late-game drive ends with 52-45 loss to Riverside City
October 29, 2022
Football: Falcons use big-play offense to defeat Palomar, 35-20
October 22, 2022
Football: Cerritos retains Milk Can Trophy after 22-20 win
October 15, 2022
Football: Offense powers their way to a 50-14 conference win
October 1, 2022
Football: Late touchdown hands Falcons first loss
September 24, 2022
Football: Pair of pick-6 touchdowns highlight 63-point outburst
September 17, 2022
Football: Late touchdown and fumble recovery leads Falcons to win
September 10, 2022
Football: Big plays on offense & defensive stops secure win
September 3, 2022
Football: Cerritos holds off Pasadena City for season-opening win