San Diego Community College Football : Palomar to Play Key Role in Race

Palomar College could cause some major disruption to the Mission Conference football race starting Saturday, when the Comets play host to Saddleback in a 1:30 p.m. game at San Marcos High School.

Saddleback is in a first-place tie with Orange Coast, the team Palomar plays Nov. 17 at OCC.

Palomar is the top rushing team in the conference this season, averaging 176 yards per game. Tracy Kennedy leads with 503 yards in 83 carries, and Joe Emerick has 322 yards in 69 carries.

Palomar also has the top rushing defense in the conference, giving up 55 yards a game. Saddleback is second, giving up 62 yards a game.

Palomar also is tops in total defense, giving up 269 yards a game. Sophomore linebacker David Veytia had 11 tackles and 2 sacks, including the game-saver, in last Saturday’s 17-13 victory over Rancho Santiago. Veytia sacked quarterback Rick Burns with less than a minute to play on fourth down at the Palomar five-yard line.

The conference’s top two passers will meet Saturday night when San Diego Mesa plays Grossmont at 7:30 at Grossmont High School. Jeff Sturch of Mesa leads the conference in passing yardage with 1,954, and Mike Jordan of Grossmont is second with 1,870.