East Los Angeles College sophomore linebacker Anthony Perez (No. 46) reaches out to tackle Orange Coast College freshman running back John Simon as sophomore running back Vaquel Junious Brown looks on in a 27-3 ELAC loss to the Pirates on Sept. 3. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)

Posted: Sep 03, 2016

ELAC football falls short in opener

COSTA MESA, CA — It’s official. The East Los Angeles College football team played its initial game under first-year head coach Bobby Godinez, a 27-3 non-conference loss to the Orange Coast College Pirates, the No. 16-ranked team in the state at Dick Tucker Field today.

“We played a very good football team and I thought we competed,” said Godinez. “We’ve come a long way from the beginning of summer and we still have a long way to go. We have a team that’s going to go out there and compete.”

After the initial quarter, it looked as if ELAC would pull the biggest shocker in the first week of JC football throughout the state.

The ELAC offense totaled 99 yards in the first quarter, while the Husky defense held Orange Coast to minus 13 yards. ELAC won the time of possession battle 9:19 minutes to 5:41.

After the dust settled, the remaining three quarters saw ELAC only total 93 more yards while Orange Coast found its groove and finished with 359 total yards. The Pirates controlled possession after the first quarter 29:53 to 15:29 for ELAC.

Adding to ELAC’s demise, the Huskies received nine flags for 98 yards in penalties compared to five flags for 60 yards for the Pirates.

Orange Coast scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second and third quarters with two quarterbacks at the helm, sophomore Kody Whitaker (Redlands HS) who threw 145 yards (10-of-16) and freshman James Harrelson (San Juan Hills HS) who threw 124 yards (9-of-24).

ELAC scored a touchdown with almost five minutes left in the third quarter, but an 11-yard holding penalty nullified sophomore quarterback Jonathan Santos’ (South East HS) 9-yard reception to sophomore wide receiver Khamren Davenport (Frederick Douglass Academy).

Husky sophomore kicker Vicente Luis Juan (LA Wilson HS) connected on a 37-yard field goal with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Santos finished the night with 104 passing yards (17-of-35) and one interception. In the Husky-dominated first quarter, he threw 37 yards (7-of-12).

Sophomore running back Shaquille Shelton led the Huskies in rushing yardage. He rushed 11 times for 38 yards.

Davenport caught five receptions for 36 yards, sophomore wide receiver Cemaj Douglas (Dorsey HS) hauled in six receptions for 24 yards and sophomore defensive back Corie Railey (Dorsey HS) spurted 16 yards with a key reception.

The Huskies had 46 tackles to the Pirates’ 39.

Freshman linebacker Elijah Quarles (Pasadena HS) led the Huskies defensive pack with eight tackles, four of them solo.

Sophomore linebacker Travond Ross (Lawndale, NC Burns / HS) and freshman safety Trevon Bordrick (Wilmington, DE / Howard HS of Technology) each recorded seven tackles.

Quarles and freshman safety Ryan Ausbrooks (Sterling Heights, MI / Henry Ford II HS) each got through the line for a quarterback sack for Pirate losses of seven and six yards, respectively.

Douglas electrified the Husky fans with three kickoff returns for 83 yards as did sophomore cornerback Cinwon Whitehead (Hampton, GA / Lovejoy HS) who grabbed an interception.

Godinez did not shy away from scheduling one of the better teams in the state from the top-tier National Conference for the Huskies’ opener.

“Whenever you play quality opponents early it always sets you up for the rest of the season,” said Godinez. “One thing I told the team was I’m glad we lost right now and made the mistakes we did so we can get them corrected this early in the season.”

“They (the Huskies) know what it’s like to lose a game so they can strive not to lose another,” said Godinez.

ELAC joins the newly formed Metro League of the American Division this season. Metro League participants include Glendale Community, LA Southwest, Pasadena City, Santa Ana and West LA colleges as well as El Camino College Compton Center.

Metro League non-conference scores from today included only one win, a West LA 47-34 upset victory against No. 18-ranked Santa Monica College.

Other scores included No. 2 Long Beach City College, 41-14 vs. Pasadena City, No. 17 Fullerton College 56-17 vs. Santa Ana, No. 30 El Camino College 41-21 vs. Southwest, LA Harbor College 38-6 vs. ECC Compton and Golden West College 33-0 vs. Glendale.

ELAC hosts Allan Hancock College of Santa Maria in a 4 p.m. contest on Saturday, Sept. 10.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia