Huskies win East-West Football Game, 35-17

MONTEREY, CA — The No. 6-ranked (Southern California American Division Poll) East Los Angeles College won a key Metro League football game against West Los Angeles College in LA’s East-West game.

The Huskies, who remain in the race for a bowl game bid with the win, improve to 5-3 overall and are 3-1 in Metro League play. West LA (3-6, 3-2) falls out of the bowl game picture.

“Getting this win is good, three-in-a-row and looking for more,” said ELAC Head Coach Bobby Godinez. “West LA was ready to play and came out throwing punches then we responded accordingly. We ended up strong at the half and then came out in the third quarter and played some really good football.”

ELAC, who has not lost to West LA since 2008, played its Metro League rival to a scoreless first quarter. West LA scored a field goal 71 seconds into the second quarter.

Less than two minutes later, ELAC scored the first of five unanswered touchdowns, a 22-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Lavell Thompson (South Gate High School). Sophomore defensive back Aubrey Mosley-Laughlin (Monrovia HS) took the bobbled PAT and ran it in for a two-point conversion. ELAC led 8-3.

ELAC scored again on its next series, a 20-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Kameron Johnson (Monrovia HS). Freshman kicker Hector Gomez (Roosevelt HS) split the uprights and ELAC led 15-3 with 1:19 left in the half.

ELAC ran out the gates in the second half beginning with sophomore defensive back Toure Wallace (Chicago Vocational HS) returning the third quarter opening kickoff 55 yards to the West LA 22-yard line.

On 4th and 9 from the 21-yard line, ELAC scored a 21-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Phillip Tran (San Jose / Archbishop Mitty HS) to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Allen (Fairfax HS).

Tran scored a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the third quarter and ELAC led 29-3.

Two plays later, sophomore defensive lineman Amarray Jay (Durham, NC / Northern HS) recovered a West LA fumble at their 27-yard line, which was forced by sophomore linebacker Elijah Quarles (Pasadena HS). ELAC scored just more than a minute later from a sophomore running back Nicholas Hutson (Paramount HS) run.

During ELAC’s five-touchdown scoring run, the Huskies outgained West LA in yardage, 168-67.

The fourth quarter ensued with the Huskies rotating their roster, which West LA took advantage of with two touchdowns scored.

Husky stats

Tran went 17-of-33 for 138 yards with one interception. Allen led the Huskies in reception yardage for the fifth time this season with five catches for 63 yards with an average of 12.6 yards per reception. He leads the Huskies in scoring with nine touchdowns for 54 points.

Thompson rushed for 67 yards rushing from eight carries, Hutson rushed 11 times for 54 yards and Johnson rushed twice for 36 yards.

Sophomore defensive back Trevon Bordrick  (DE / Howard HS) grabbed his second interception of the season.

The Huskies had a big night returning kickoffs. Adding to Wallace’s 55-yarder was a 50-yard return from defensive back Qua'D Cheatham (Newark, NJ / Barringer HS) and a 48-yard return from sophomore running back Marquis Arnold (South Carolina / Seneca HS).

Sophomore linebacker Brentton Hill (Tracy HS) recovered a West LA fumble, which was forced freshman linebacker Jailyn Hodges (Crenshaw HS).

Gomez connected on three PATS and totals 31 on the season, 12th best in the state.

Freshman linebacker Garrett Rogers (Don Lugo HS) led the Huskies in tackles with six. He has 55 to date, 4th best in the state.

Four Husky sophomores had five tackles each, Hill – all unassisted, freshman defensive back DeAndre Watson (Millikan HS) – also all unassisted, defensive lineman Trestan Kueneman (Chino HS) and offensive lineman Earl Allen (Rowland HS).

ELAC travels to Pasadena City College (5-3, 4-0) on Saturday, Nov. 4 for a 6 p.m. game. “If we take care of business in these last two games, it looks promising for a bowl game, but not guaranteed.”

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index and ELAC Huskies Athletics on Facebook.

submitted by Tadzio Garcia