Ball-hawking defense leads way for Glendale Community College football victory

GLENDALE — Behind the strength of perhaps its strongest defensive effort this season, if not ever, the Glendale Community College football team returned to both its dominant and winning ways Saturday evening.

The Vaqueros forced eight turnovers, six via interceptions, and stifled visiting Antelope Valley College for a 44-0 American Conference Pacific Division victory at Sartoris Field.

With the win, American Division fourth-ranked Glendale, which is also No. 24 in state, improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference and registered the second shutout this season and in the seven-year career of coach John Rome.

“They’re larcenists,” Rome said of his team’s defense and, in particular, his secondary. “They have sticky fingers and they’re great athletes. They make plays and they’re experienced.”

The eight turnovers are believed to be a school record, while Glendale’s effort also marked a considerable turnabout from its last contest two weeks ago, when the Vaqueros fell, 48-31, at Santa Monica on Oct. 4.

“We just want to get past that game and never think about it again,” Glendale defensive back Dante Shipman said.

While there were plenty of highlights Saturday, perhaps the most historical came at the 10:29 mark in the second quarter courtesy of Shipman.

The sophomore picked off a pass from quarterback David Erickson to become Glendale’s career leader in interceptions with 12, which later became 13 with a third-quarter pick. The takeaway leap-frogged Shipman ahead of Greg Couvette, who set the previous mark of 11 in 1983.

“I’m just doing my job basically, whatever the coach tells me to do, I’m doing it,” said Shipman, who leads all Southern California Football Assn. defensive backs with six interceptions this season. “Coach puts me in to make the right plays at the right time and that’s what I’m doing.”

Shipman wasn’t the only defensive back to finish with two picks, as fellow sophomore Jaelen Rising-Barnwell had two interceptions, the first coming on the third play from scrimmage.

Rising-Barnwell later preserved the Vaqueros shutout when he picked off Antelope Valley back-up quarterback EJ Watts at the goal line and returned the takeaway 55 yards at the seven-minute mark in the third.

The Vaqueros eventually converted the interception into a touchdown when Robert Jones (10 carries for 110 yards) punched in the second of his two rushing scores with 1:37 left in the third to put Glendale up, 41-0.

“We’re just doing our jobs and making plays,” said Rising-Barnwell, who has five interceptions this season.

Glendale sophomore defensive back Deron Smith similarly had a shutout-saving interception in the end zone with 8:06 left in the game.

Glendale’s only interception that directly resulted in points happened when sophomore linebacker Chris Riley returned a pick 11 yards for a touchdown to put the Vaqueros up, 14-0, with 3:10 left in the first quarter.

Saturday’s contest was all but decided by halftime as Glendale took a 34-0 advantage over the Marauders (2-4, 0-3) into the break.

Starting quarterback Andre Nunez had a hand or foot in his team’s first three offensive touchdowns, beginning with a 10-yard strike to Austyn Walker with 7:52 remaining in the first quarter, which put Glendale up, 7-0.

Nunez later scored from 21 yards out eight seconds into the second quarter on a read-option keeper. Later, Nunez hit wide receiver Isaiah Bernard on an inside screen that turned into a 49-yard touchdown pass play with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter, which put Glendale up 27-0 after a missed extra point.

Glendale closed out its first-half scoring on an 18-yard touchdown run from Jones set up on a fumble recovery from David Smith at the Marauders’ 48.

The Vaqueros’ last score of the game came on a 25-yard field goal from Oscar Reynoso with 11:18 left to finalize the 44-0 score. Glendale’s final takeaway also took place in the fourth quarter as Dillon Chaney recovered a fumble.

Outside of the turnovers, Glendale held Antelope Valley to 33 yards rushing and 182 yards passing.