No winds of change in schedule for Glendale Community College football
Unlike last season, there won’t be any changes on the schedule this upcoming campaign for the Glendale Community College football team.
Glendale joined the seven-team American Division Metro League last season after it previously resided in the eight-squad American Division Pacific League. The Vaqueros faced five new opponents last season and finished 3-7, 3-3 in conference.
There won’t be any changes this season, as Glendale will compete against the same 10 teams.
“I have no problem with our schedule,” Glendale 10th-year coach John Rome said. “It’s good because we’re going up against teams in nonconference with similar records or teams that used to be with us in other conferences. It’s also good from a geographical standpoint because a lot of the schools we plays are not that far.”
The only difference in the 10-game schedule will be a reverse of the venues. Glendale will look to post its first winning record since 2014, when it went 9-2, 6-1 in the American Division Pacific League and advanced to the Patriotic Bowl.
Glendale’s opponents combined for a 51-52 (.495 winning percentage) record last season. Three teams posted winning records, all of whom competed in a playoff contest.
All of Glendale games will take place on Saturdays and will begin at 1 p.m. or 6.
Glendale will begin the season with a nonconference road game against Golden West (4-6 last season) at 1 p.m. Sept. 2 at Orange Coast College. Golden West registered a 33-0 win in last season’s meeting to start a 0-6 start for Glendale.
“Golden West doesn’t have a traditional home field, so they play their games at Orange Coast because they are in the same district,” Rome said. “I think it’s going to be a great game and they are very physical and get a lot of players from the Long Beach area.”
Glendale will have its home opener at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 against San Diego Southwestern (9-2) at Sartoris Field in a nonconference game. The Vaqueros made the long trek to Chula Vista last season and suffered a 27-14 defeat.
“They run the spread option, just like a lot of teams do,” Rome said. “They had a real good team last year and I thought we played them pretty tough. Our defense got a lot better in that game after having a hard time against Golden West.”
Southwestern lost to L.A. Valley in the American Division Championship Bowl last season.
Glendale will then make its longest trek of the campaign, a 180-mile round trip to the Inland Empire to face Mount San Jacinto at 1 p.m. Sept. 16 in a nonconference tilt. Mt. San Jacinto (3-7) notched a 21-19 win in last season’s matchup.
“Every time we go down there, it’s very hot,” Rome said. “So, we’re expecting it to be warm again and there’s really nothing we can do to offset it.”
Glendale will wrap up nonconference play at home at 6 p.m. on Sept. 23 against L.A. Valley, which went 11-0 and won the American Pacific Conference. The teams have faced off each season since 2009, when the Vaqueros joined the Pacific League.
Glendale played one its best games last season against Valley in a 13-0 defeat.
“It’s always a good game and rivalry when we get together and we’ve been in the same conference before,” Rome said. “We played them tough at their place and they had a great season.
“We know it will be another challenge. They have a new coach and I expect they will have a good offense.”
Glendale will begin Metro League play with a road game against West L.A. at 1 p.m. Sept. 30. West L.A. (5-5) rolled to a 58-9 win in last season’s league opener versus Glendale.
“West L.A. will have a lot of good athletes and a high-powered offense,” Rome said. “It’s always a tough place to play.”
Glendale will then have its bye before returning to action with a league home contest against Santa Ana at 1 p.m. Oct. 14. Santa Ana (5-5) held on for a 24-17 win against Glendale in 2016.
“I think Santa Ana will have a team that’s going to have a lot of skilled players across the field,” Rome said.
Glendale will then make its shortest trip of the season, a 10-mile commute to face Pasadena City College at 6 p.m. Oct. 21. Glendale recorded a 25-3 win against Pasadena (4-6) for its first win last season. It marked the first time the Vaqueros beat the Lancers since 1988.
“It’s a pretty good rivalry and I expect PCC to have a much better team,” Rome said.
The Vaqueros will remain on the road for a league contest against Compton at 6 p.m. Oct. 28. Glendale rolled to a 61-6 win last season against Compton (1-9).
“They have a brand-new field,” Rome said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll also be an improved team this year.”
Glendale will wrap up the campaign with a pair of home contests.
The Vaqueros will take on L.A. Southwest at 1 p.m. Nov. 4 and East L.A. at 1 p.m. Nov. 11.
Glendale picked up a 26-6 victory versus L.A. Southwest (0-10) last season.
“They will also have a new coaching staff,” Rome said. “It will be interesting to see how much they’ve improved and they should have some talented players coming in.”
East L.A. wrapped up an unbeaten regular season with a 30-24 win against Glendale. The Huskies (11-0) then toppled College of the Desert to win the Patriotic Bowl.
“We learned a lot from playing East L.A. last year,” Rome said. “They had a lot of explosive players and we hung in there with them.
“It will be interesting to see how we match up with them again.”
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
