Pony Bowl : Riverside College Hands Glendale Its First Loss

Riverside College scored 14 points in the third quarter Saturday to upset previously unbeaten Glendale, the country’s top-ranked community college, 28-10, in the sixth annual PONY Bowl in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

“No one gave us much of a chance,” said Barry Meier, Riverside coach. “Our players didn’t believe that, but we showed what we can do today.”

The Tigers (10-1), rated fifth in the state and eighth in the nation, gained a 14-10 halftime lead. It was the first time this season that Glendale (10-1) trailed in a game.

Riverside put the game out of reach late in the third quarter when Vaquero running back Donnel Pumphrey was stripped of the ball after a three-yard gain. Riverside defensive back Alonzo Hampton recovered and ran 68 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 21-10 lead.

After stopping Glendale on its next possession, Tiger quarterback Keith Widener, who threw three touchdowns pases, connected with Tony Evans on a 45-yard post pattern for another score and a 28-10 lead.

Glendale’s All-American quarterback Rob Huffman was sacked six times and continually pressured. He completed 15 of 33 passes for 190 yards and was intercepted once.

Riverside’s Mike Moore gained 186 yards in 22 carries and was voted the game’s most valuable player.

Glendale scored on its first possession as Pumphrey scored from four yards out, but the Tigers rallied behind Widener, who completed 5 of 11 passes for 101 yards. He threw to Dan Kelly, who was open in the end zone on a nine-yard play-action fake to make it 7-6. The point after tied the score.