The SMC Corsairs were seeking their third win of the 2009 season.
The L A Southwest Cougars were seeking their first.

SMC got 19 first downs. LASW got 7.
SMC netted 155 yards rushing. LASW netted 42.
SMC netted 215 yards passing. LASW netted 73.
SMC had had 370 total offensive yards; LASW 115.
SMC was two for two in the red zone. LASW was one for one.
SMC got five sacks for 38 yards. LASW got one for 11 yards.
SMC’s time of possession was 35:37.
LASW’s time of possession was 24.23.

SMC scored 18 points. LASW scored 19.

The Corsairs needed to win this game for three reasons:

1. they were supposed to win,
2. they could have gone 4-3 in conference for the season,
3. they needed the momentum going into their last game.

The last game of the season for SMC will be next Saturday against L A Pierce who defeated Antelope Valley 44-41. AV was the only formidable opponent Pierce defeated this season. Nevertheless, AV defeated SMC 55-0; Pierce defeated AV; so, as they say, do the math. SMC will have to play exponentially better than they did in this game to defeat Pierce.

The first quarter was a battle of defenses - neither team scored. SMC failed to capitalize on their only shot. They moved the ball 43 yards in 15 plays on their first possession of the game. The drive ended when Cougar’s defensive back Anthony Bailey blocked a Gerryl Benett 39 yard field goal attempt.

With 07:42 left on the clock in the second quarter, LASW got the ball on their own 12. A three yard rushing loss by running back Gregory Norwood and a five yard penalty for delay of game landed LASW on the four yard line. Then L A quarterback Robe McCullough fumbled in the end zone which was recovered by SMC defensive back Deon Rieux. The officials deemed this a safety and SMC took a two point lead.

Then the SMC offense showed life: on the fourth play of the drive with just over four minutes left in the second period, quarterback Scribner connected with wide receiver Sayyid Rivers for a spectacular 64 yards touchdown. The kick attempt failed, so SMC’s lead increased to 8-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, wide receiver Gerryl Benett bangs a 70 yard kickoff – out of bounds: the Cougar drive began at their own 40 yard line. Two plays into the drive McCullough rushed for an impressive 21 yard gain. Then because of a horrific call by the officials, SMC defensive end Byro Rutherford was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul. This resulted in a field goal and the SMC lead was cut to five. The half ended with SMC leading 8-3.

SMC’s first score of the third quarter was thanks to their running back Kendall Gordan – he capped off the 55 yard drive with a three yard touchdown. A Rony Estrada extra point with 9:15 left on the game clock improved the SMC lead 15-3.

SMC’s last points of the night came with 03:54 left in the third quarter. They moved the ball 43 yards in ten plays resulting in a 37 yard Estrada field goal. With an 18-3 lead, it appeared that SMC was in command of the game and poised for victory.

Appearances can be deceiving.

The first of 16 unanswered L A points began with two minutes left in the third quarter. The ball was hiked to L A Wide receiver Lavai Littleton who passed to his quarterback Marcell Dejean for a 37 yard touchdown. The extra point failed. The third quarter ended with a diminished 18-9 SMC lead.

With 10:43 left in the game, SMC’s momentum was quashed. On third and 18 from the SMC 40, Gordan rushed to the L A 45 when L A defensive back Michael Stone literally stole the ball from Gordan and ran it back 55 yards for the touchdown. The point after was good and the SMC lead was cut to two points – L A 16, SMC 18.

SMC’s coup de grace began with a first and ten from the SMC 21 with a Rawls fumble. L A linebacker Marcus Harrison recovered the ball, giving the Cougars a first and ten from the SMC 24, however, the L A drive was thwarted by excellent defense. SMC not only stopped L A, but caused two consecutive one yard losses for L A running back Gregory Norwood. On third and 12, SMC defensive back Justin Broome almost intercepted a Dejean pass to wide receiver Terrell Young.

L A attempted a field goal and missed it by a proverbial mile, but SMC linebacker Demarcus Blackmon was charged with roughing the kicker, so L A got the ball on the SMC 17, and another shot at three points. If you can have a coup de grace within a coup de grace, this is it. The second kick split the uprights and L A took the lead by one point.

With excellent game clock management by L A, SMC’s final opportunity came at their own 16 yard line with 22 seconds left in the game. On first and ten, Scribner connected with Benett for 17 yards stopping the clock. On the next play Scribner was intercepted and the upset was complete.

L A head coach Henry Washington was immensely proud of his team. “We have a great group of kids who hung in there; a great group of kids who became men tonight.” The coach knew his team was the underdog for this game. He counted on his defense to come though. “The decisive play of the game was when [Michael Stone] stripped the ball from SMC and ran it in for the touchdown. We haven’t done much offensively all year and we figured our defense had to score to win the game,” he said.

The final score - SMC 18, L A Southwest, 19.

Individual Statistics

Santa Monica College Corsairs

SMC running back and workhorse, Travis Rawls, for the second week in a row gained over a hundred yards rushing. He netted 116 for the night with a long of 24 yards and a 4.3 average gain per carry. Running back Kendall Gordon gained 31 yards with one touchdown. Quarterback Zachary Scribner was 19 for 39 with three interceptions and one touchdown. His longest connect was for 64 yards.

Wide receiver Sayyid Rivers had an impressive 101 yards and one touchdown with a long of 64 yards. Wide receiver Gerryl Bennett garnered 51 yards. Running back Kendall Gordon had a long of 21 yards. Kicker Rony Estrada had one 37 yard field goal.

Defensively, SMC linebackers Stephen Gentili and Joseph Alvarez each had five individual tackles and two assists for a total of seven. Defensive end Roderick Benman and linebacker Carl Capers had four individual tackles. Benman was credited with two assists for a total of six; Capers had one assist for a total of five for the evening.

Los Angeles Southwest Cougars

Running back Gregory Norwood had a long run of 11 yards. Quarterback Robe McCullough had a long of 21 yards rushing. Quarterback Marcell Dejean was six of 15 with 59 net yards and one touchdown. His long for the night was 37 yards. Wide receiver Lavai Littleton had one reception for a 37 yard touchdown. Kicker Luis Deleon had two field goals, one for 34 yards and one for 39 yards.

Defensively, linebacker Sedrole Chervil put up the best numbers. He had eight individual tackles and three assists for a distinguished 11 tackles in the game. Linebackers Issac Foster and Marcus Harrison and defensive lineman David Chavez all had at least six total tackles for the night.

Defensive back Michael Stone had one fumble recovery for a touchdown which Coach Washington attributes the momentum shift in the game.