Huskies lose to Ventura College
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — Down 9-7 against Ventura College in the first two minutes of the second quarter, East Los Angeles College couldn’t compensate for missing a few players, mostly starters, and lost 39-13.
A high-spirited Huskies team looked primed for an upset three minutes into the game with an interception at the Ventura 4-yard line from sophomore defensive back Mitchell Williams (Compton / Centennial High School). A Husky fumble 40 seconds later led to a safety and Ventura led 2-0.
Ventura closed the first quarter with an 11-play, 86-yard drive and led 9-0. Mid-drive, Ventura’s Dondre Baker took off for a 28-yard run brought down by ELAC defensive back Chad Earle’s (SC / Seneca HS) touchdown saving tackle.
The upbeat Huskies responded with a quick 6-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to come within two, down 9-7. ELAC quarterback Paul Herrera (Huntington Park HS) tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cleo Session, Jr. (Garfield HS). Key plays in the drive included quarterback Phillip Tran’s (San Jose / Archbishop Mitty HS) 20-yard pass to wide receiver Daniel Munguia (Don Lugo HS) and two runs totaling 20 yards by defensive back Armando Velasco (St. Paul HS).
The Huskies scored from a Herrera 5-yard run with 4:41 left in the third period on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
ELAC, with a big chunk of its lineman out of action and a handful of defensive backs, was outgained 512 yards to 187 and lost two fumbles. Ventura’s win gave its 9-year head coach Steve Mooshagian his 66th career win, which tied a school record.
DAWG TRACKS
Velasco rushed for a game-high 84 yards on 16 attempts. Wide receiver Jailyn Jolley (Pasadena HS) led the Huskies with pass receptions with four catches for 59 yards. Herrera threw for 55 yards from 6-of-14 pass attempts, Sessions was 1-for-1 for 30 yards and Tran was 3-for-7 for 25 yards.
On defense, Tyrus Douglas (Bellflower HS) had a game-high 13 tackles, 8 solo, and linebacker Garrett Rogers (Don Lugo HS) had 10 tackles and ELAC’s only quarterback sack.
In other Northern League competition, Canyons (9-0, 4-0) won 34-7 at Long Beach City College (4-5, 1-3) and Bakersfield (6-3, 3-1) shutout Moorpark College (1-8, 0-4) 31-0. A Bakersfield win at Canyons next week could create a 3-way tie for the conference crown with Ventura (8-1, 3-1).
UP NEXT
ELAC (3-6, 1-3) hosts Moorpark on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Weingart Stadium. If ELAC wins they end their first-ever year in National Northern League competition in fourth place.
Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).
submitted by Tadzio Garcia