El Camino’s Bid for National Title Ends as Riverside Wins, 21-14
El Camino College, needing an impressive victory Saturday in the Orange County Bowl to have a chance at a national title, lost to Riverside, 21-14, in front of about 7,000 at Orange Coast College.
Both teams came in with 10-0 records, and El Camino was tied for first with Navarro of Texas. Riverside was ranked third in the J.C. Grid-Wire national poll. Navarro defeated fourth-ranked Ellsworth of Iowa, 41-17, in the Mid-American Bowl earlier Saturday.
Hank Ives of the J.C. Grid-Wire said that Navarro would get the top spot in the final poll announced Sunday.
Riverside was led by linebacker Samila Manu, who had three interceptions, including one in his own end zone with 18 seconds left in the game.
El Camino tied it, 14-14, of a 59-yard pass from Frank Dolce to David Balakes with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
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