Desert College Beats Southwest in Southern Calif. Bowl, 17-3

Inspired play by a tough College of the Desert defense lifed the Roadrunners to a 17-3 Southern California Bowl victory over visiting Southwest College Saturday night.

Southwest finished its most successful season 7-3-1. With the win, Foothill Conference champion COD finished 9-2.

Both teams capitalized from turnovers to get their first scores, 28-yard field goals by each team’s kicker in the first quarter.

Southwest Coach Henry Washington said before the game that if the Cougars could get their running game on track, COD would be in for a long night.

But that didn’t happen. The Cougars gained only 54 yards in total offense for the game, 46 in the first half, when they were thrown for losses totaling a minus 21 yards on the ground.

The Roadrunners moved the ball 80 yards in six plays to take a 10-3 lead at the half.

Southwest got its offense untracked a bit in the third period. The Cougars went from their two-yard line to the Roadrunners’ four, but could not score.

Brian Carter’s 74 yard interception return in the fourth quarter gave the Roadrunners a 17-3 lead.