Glendale Community College returns from bye with huge test
Back to work following a bye week, there’s a big task for the Glendale Community College football team to tackle leading into the second half of the season.
It’s one 10th-year Glendale coach John Rome won’t discount when host Glendale faces high-powered Santa Ana at 1 p.m. Saturday in an American Metro Conference contest.
In search of its first win after having a chance to get bumps and bruises relatively healed, Glendale (0-5, 0-1 in conference) will look to stop the potent offense of Santa Ana (3-3, 2-0).
The Dons are averaging 40.5 points and 430.5 yards of offense per game. On the flip side, Santa Ana yields 44.7 points and 438.8 yards per contest.
“We know about Santa Ana and its offense and defense,” Rome said. “Santa Ana can score points in bushels and they also give up quite a few points. So, we know our offense is ready to go.
“During the bye, you have a chance to work on all of your mistakes and we’ve done that. We’re reasonably healthy and it’s just about trying to get better.”
Glendale last played Sept. 30, when it started conference action with a 21-13 road loss against West L.A. The Vaqueros finished with 278 yards of offense in a game they never led. Freshman quarterback Guy Gibbs (Burbank High) completed 18 of 27 passes for 140 yards and rushed for a touchdown in his first start. Gibbs filled in for starter Michael Bonds (St. Francis) after Bonds suffered an apparent shoulder injury against L.A. Valley on Sept. 23. Rome said it remains unclear if Bonds will return this season.
Gibbs might be in line to put up some huge numbers against Santa Ana, which posted a 24-17 win against Glendale last season en route to finishing second in conference behind East L.A.
“Guy has been doing a great job for us and he’s more than capable of having a good game and putting up some big numbers,” said Rome, whose team has lost three games by eight points or less. “We’re going to have to find ways to get into the end zone.”
Glendale running back Pileak Sun finished with 76 yards rushing in 18 carries against West L.A. The Vaqueros are averaging 11.2 points and have surrendered 29.4 points per contest.
Santa Ana posted a 44-14 conference home win against L.A. Southwest on Saturday after earning a 75-61 conference road victory versus East L.A. on Sept. 30.
The Dons collected 349 yards of offense against L.A. Southwest. Quarterback Conner Miller completed 19 of 34 passes for 225 yards. He had three touchdowns passes and one interception. Overall, Miller has completed 106 of 212 passes for 1,691 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Santa Ana running back Deven Boston rushed for 126 yards in 15 carries against L.A. Southwest. He’s rushed overall for 679 yards in 105 carries and scored nine touchdowns.
Following Santa Ana, Glendale will embark on a two-game road trip for conference games against Pasadena City College (6 p.m. Oct. 21) and Compton (6 p.m. Oct. 28) before wrapping up the regular season with conference home games versus L.A. Southwest (1 p.m. Nov. 4) and East L.A. (1 p.m. Nov. 12).
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
