An East Los Angeles College Win Slips Through Fingers in Loss to Mt. SAC

COVINA, Calif. — In a showdown of No. 29-state ranked East Los Angeles College (JC Athletic Bureau Poll) and No. 3 Mt. San Antonio College, the Huskies outplayed their National Division non-conference opponent in most categories including mistakes and lost 44-26 a as a result of the latter.

“This was a game of two very good teams. We hurt ourselves with our mistakes,” said ELAC head coach Bobby Godinez. “We are our own worst enemy, which we will (address) this week. We’ve got a lot of good football ahead of us.”

The Huskies, a powerhouse since Godinez took over the program three years ago, outgained traditional powerhouse Mt. SAC on offense with 407-305 total yards and with more first downs 29-17. The Huskies won the rushing battle 117-95, had more time of possession 37:25-22:35 and more pass yardage, 290-210 yards.

It was the latter category that proved futile for the Huskies as Mt. SAC sophomore quarterback Steven Nava (Rosemead HS) had easy pickings with the Husky defense passing for three touchdowns (49, 32- and 24-yard scores).

Both teams were even in kickoff and punt return yardage except for a Mt. SAC 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, a burst through the slippery fingers of the ELAC special teams. Mt. SAC led 38-24 with 12:53 left in the game. This followed a 10 play, 83-yard Husky drive that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass from sophomore QB Paul Herrera (Huntington Park HS) to sophomore wide receiver Cleo. Session Jr. (Garfield HS).

In the fourth quarter with 3:35 left in the game, ELAC drove to the red zone for the second of three times in the period but fell short. On a 4-and-goal at the 3-yard line, with the crowd screaming on the both sides, a TD pass attempt fell inches short from the fingertips of sophomore WR James Dunn (Muir HS). The game ended with ELAC in the red zone.

Herrera tossed a total of 244 yards, 23-of-37, one touchdown and two interceptions. Nava was 13-of-30 for 210 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. ELAC sophomore kicker Ricky Quintero (Cathedral HS) hit a near ELAC record-breaking 51-yard field goal in the first quarter. In the first quarter, a bad snap on an ELAC punt attempt resulted in a blocked punt and a 5-yard return for Mt. SAC’s first touchdown.

“We should have won against Mt. SAC. We played tough defense and offense but we’ve got to cut down the big plays we gave away,” said freshman wide receiver Jorge Alvarez (Servite HS). “When we fill the lanes, we’ll stop the giveaways. When we play mistake-free football we’ll improve. I’m very excited about ELAC football.”

UP NEXT

The schedule doesn’t get an easier as ELAC, 2-2 overall, plays four teams ranked in the Top-10 beginning with No. 9 Southwestern College (3-1), Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at home in Weingart Stadium. Southwestern fell short of an upset tonight losing 19-14 to No. 1 Fullerton College (4-0).

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia