Santa Monica College Corsairs vs. West LA Wildcats.

The first quarter belonged to the defense. Both teams were able to move the ball down the field until they neared the red zone. It looked like West LA would draw first blood because of a spectacular 21 yard run to the SMC 15 by their quarterback Alan Ferguson until he fumbled. SMC defensive tackle Eddie Kelly recovered the ball but SMC barely made it to midfield before having to punt. The defense on both teams simply would not relent. The first quarter ended 0-0.

The first scoring drive of the game began on the West LA 36 yard line. It took two rushes from West LA running back Al White to gain ten yards for the first down. Ferguson, who rushed and passed diligently on this drive, gained 14 yards on a dazzling run. West LA running back Kyle Tunney follow suit with a solid nine yard rush. Then Ferguson went airborne completing a pass first to Tunney for nine yards, next to wide receiver Armauni Johnson for 18 which put West LA on the SMC 8 yard line. They wasted no time – running back Dominic Cooper rushed for eight yards for the first six points of the game. The point after was missed.

SMC came right back. The first two huge plays of the game were when West LA kicker Jorge Gomez banged a whopping 64 yard kickoff, only to have SMC running back Kendall Gordan return the kick 63 yards to the West LA 26. On third and eight wide receiver Gerryl Benett (in the quarterback position) passed the ball to wide receiver Sayyid Rivers for 24 yards and the touch. The point after was good and SMC led 7-6.

Once again, virtually all of the remaining second quarter was a defensive battle. SMC went three and out on their next drive. West L A’s biggest gain on their next drive was a 15 yard SMC face mask penalty. Most of the attempts netted West LA two to four yards, yet they nevertheless managed to get a first and goal on the SMC 7 yard line. Then a mental mistake cost West LA dearly – a holding call made it first and goal from the 17. On third and goal quarterback Spencer Phillips completed a six yard pass to White which made it fourth and goal from the SMC 7. Phillips attempted a quarterback sneak but the SMC defense stopped him cold.

West LA’s next score was a result of a complete team effort. Their defense pinned SMC on the one yard line, and with only a moderate punt from Benett, their drive started at the SMC 43. The Wildcats mostly chipped away at SMC’s defense with short gains. The biggest gain of the drive was a Cooper 15 yard rush to the SMC 12. The key to this drive, however, was steady gains with no mistakes. The drive ended on a Phillips pass to Tunney for 8 yards and six points. West LA lost two yards on the two point attempt and the half ended with a score of 12-7.

The bottom fell out of SMC’s offense and defense in the third quarter and the first half of the fourth quarter. SMC quarterback Breonat Shelton was sacked in back to back possessions. The second sack was in the end zone which gave West LA a safety and a 14-7 lead. Then it got worse. The Wildcats put up 14 more unanswered points giving them a 28-7 lead with 12:48 to play in the game.

West LA was on the verge of putting the game out of reach with only 10:51 left on the clock when SMC defensive end Nicholas Adams recovered a West LA fumble on their own 22 yard line. Adams, literally drug the LA running back (Al White - pictured on right) 12 yards to the West LA six yard line. SMC running back Travis Rawls rushed twice for three yards apiece for the touchdown: a missed extra point by Rony Estrada and the score at this point was 28-13 in favor of West L A.

Eyebrows were raised – could SMC come back and at least take this game into overtime? This touchdown energized the whole SMC team. The defense would deny West LA any more points in the game.

On SMC’s next scoring drive, facing a second and 13, quarterback Zachar Scribner completed a spectacular 48 yard pass to his wide receiver Anthony Windom to the West LA 35. Next he hooked-up with SMC wide receiver Fletcher Chase; first for 16 yards, then for 19 yards and a touchdown. Scribner then capped the drive off with a two-point completion to Rivers. The point gap was narrowed to 28-21 with 5:52 on the game clock.

After a West LA three and out, SMC’s final shot at tying the game started on their own 25 yard line. A five yard penalty and a five yard Chase run kept the drive alive. Time was running out. Scribner threw two incomplete passes. One spectator was overheard saying “ well that should do it.” On third and ten from their own 35, Scribner, as poised as any quarterback can be, connected with Windom for a 13 yard gain. On the next play Scribner hooked up again with Chase for 15 yards.

There was less than two minutes left to play and SMC was still 37 yards from pay dirt. With an eight yard run by SMC running back Kendall Gordan and a couple short gains SMC was looking at third and six from the West LA 21. Then Scribner gained 11 yards on a keeper; L A is taxed eight yards for pass interference and SMC was sitting on a first and goal from the two yard line.

West L A’s defense would have none of this – they stopped a Rawls rush in its tracks and denied Chase a touchdown in the end zone by almost intercepting the ball. On third and goal, Rawls attempted a run up the middle, bounced off the mellay of blue and gold and white, spins around, finds a small hole and punches through for six points.

The clock stopped with exactly one minute left to play. The score is West Los Angeles Wildcats 28, Santa Monica College Corsairs, 27. A successful field goal ties the game and sends it into overtime.

There can be no doubt that SMC’s weakest link is their inability to make the point after a touchdown. Nevertheless, many spectators, present company included, were observed scratching their heads when SMC lined up for two points – not to kick.

Make the conversion; SMC wins by one point, miss it, SMC falls short by a point.

One has to wonder why Scribner has not been the starting quarterback for SMC since the beginning of the season. If it was my job to name the MVP of the game, Scribner would get the accolade. Nevertheless, Scribner accepts the hike, takes a couple steps back, finds and hits Gerryl Bennett on the numbers in the middle of the end zone for two points.

Unbelievable! Final score: Santa Monica Corsairs 29, West Los Angeles Wildcats, 28.

SMC Interim Head Coach Gifford Lindheim said the reason they went for two was because “we had the momentum and decided to take the game in our hands.” The coach said that former SMC Football Coach Robert Taylor’s passing motivated the team. He said “the team felt like they wanted to win the game for him.” Coach Taylor had been the head football coach at Santa Monica College since 1984. He died on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

This victory, albeit bittersweet, is a testament to the inspiration a great coach can have not just on his team, but all who know him. Football is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. The Corsairs played their best game of the year on Saturday. They played with purpose. They played with passion. They won, because in the team's mind, losing was not an option.

Winning a game by overcoming a 21 point deficit with under ten minutes left to play could not be a more befitting farewell to the Santa Monica College Icon.

Rest in peace Coach Taylor.