Better performance doesn’t bestow better result for Glendale college football
GLENDALE — If Glendale Community College’s football team wanted to right the ship at home in its second Pacific Conference American Division game after three straight losses, it would have to come against the reigning conference champion, visiting Santa Monica College.
Despite losing their starting quarterback early on, the Vaqueros played solid football and made a push in the third quarter, but could not quite get it done against the Corsairs, who never trailed during their 32-17 victory on Saturday night at Sartoris Field to win their 29th straight divisional matchup.
“I saw improvement from our football team tonight,” GCC Coach John Rome said. “I’ve been waiting to see improvement. I thought we played our best game so far, our most complete game so far. We still have a ways to go, but I thought we improved.”
Glendale (1-4, 0-2 in conference) trailed, 20-7, at halftime, but came out of the break hot. On the first series of the third quarter, the Vaqueros gave the visitors a heavy dose of running back Travis Custis, who ripped off a 16-yard run as part of the drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Kerin Beltran. Custis led all runners with 19 carries for 120 yards. The back from Atlanta also hauled in a screen pass for 63 yards receiving.
“I’m very proud of the way he ran,” Rome said. “I’m very proud of the holes the offensive line opened up.”
The first possession of the second half for Santa Monica College (4-0, 2-0) was brought to a halt on a pair of sacks by Nolan Jackson and then Matt Erickson to force a punt. The Vaqueros then drove the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. The score came on a seven-yard run by backup quarterback David Arriaga and led to the Vaqueros pulling to within a field goal with 4:52 left in the third at 20-17.
However, after that, Santa Monica, which has now won six straight against GCC, answered quickly. Following a huge return on the kickoff, the Corsairs promptly marched 45 yards for a touchdown just 1:38 after the Arriaga rushing touchdown, when Roger Jones ran it in from seven yards out.
The next snap on offense for Glendale saw the Vaqueros get to the line late with the play clock running down only to see Arriaga throw an interception to Santa Monica’s Anthony Gutierrez. Soon after, the visitors turned the Vaqueros miscue into points when quarterback Troy Williams could not find an open receiver, but instead pulled the ball down and ran nine yards for the score. Coming with 1:26 left in the third, they were to be the last points scored in the game.
In the fourth quarter, three of the Vaqueros’ four possessions ended with turnovers on downs and the other was another interception thrown by Arriaga as he tried to force the action on a fourth-down conversion attempt.
The contest started on a high note for the Vaqueros and starting quarterback Grant Kraemer. On the first snap on offense, he connected with Jordan LoBianco, a Crescenta Valley High product, for a 41-yard gain over the middle. However, on the next play Kraemer took off running for 14 yards and eschewed a slide, powering through the end of the run for more yards. Kramer then stayed down before leaving with a left arm injury. On the drive, GCC came up empty when a 36-yard field goal try clanged off the right upright.
In the drive following the Kraemer injury, Santa Monica got on the board for the game’s first points, capping the drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Kwame Duggins. It would be the only score in the opening quarter, after which Santa Monica, ranked second in the conference, led, 7-0.
By the Vaqueros’ next offensive possession, Kraemer was in shorts and had a clear cast on his left forearm, which was later confirmed to be broken.
“I think the injury to Grant might be season-ending,” Rome said. “To have our second string come in the very first series of the game and have to play, that is a tough thing to overcome.”
Arriaga finished 18 of 34 for 200 yards and two interceptions.
“I thought Grant was going to get up,” Arriaga said. “I didn’t know he broke his arm. But I’m ready whenever [coach is] ready. I can go in whenever.”
Santa Monica quarterback Troy Williams was lights out throughout the contest. The sophomore finished 20 of 22 for 264 yards with three total touchdowns (two passing and one rushing).
Vaqueros running back Robert Jones scored the only touchdown of the first half for the home team. The sophomore scored from two yards out on fourth down with 8:44 left in the second quarter. It was the third fourth down Glendale converted on the drive.
The Vaqueros now enter their bye week before returning Oct. 17 on the road against Antelope Valley College.
“Fundamentals,” Rome said of what the focus would be for the open week. “We’re going to work fundamentals. That is our plan every year [for the bye] to do that.”