Southwest Overpowers West L.A. : Community colleges: Cougars finish 7-2-1 and may get invitation to play in Southern California Bowl.

Everything went according to schedule for the L.A. Southwest College football team Saturday, as the Cougars ended their regular season with a 22-0 Western State Conference win over West L.A. College at West L.A.

The victory gives the Cougars (7-2-1 overall, 7-1-1 in conference play) a chance to play in a bowl. Southwest Coach Henry Washington said officials from Antelope Valley’s Southern California Bowl have expressed interest in the Cougars. Official invitations will be made today.

Southwest was a big favorite over West L.A. (2-8, 1-8), the worst team in the WSC’s Southern Division. The Oilers’ only league victory was against winless Compton College. Southwest’s defense, which ranks second in the conference, overwhelmed West L.A.’s offense.

Oiler quarterback Roman Foster accounted for most of West L.A.’s offense. The 6-foot-2 sophomore rushed for 72 yards and completed two of seven passes for 22 yards and an interception. West L.A.’s top running back, Larry Edmonds, was limited to 45 yards in 11 carries.

“The kids were expecting to win this one big, so there really was not much emotion about this game,” Washington said. “We knew we had to win. They just did what they had to do to win.”

Southwest quarterback Jesse Wallace sat out part of the first quarter because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the game’s first drive. Wallace completed four of 10 passes for 50 yards.

“I was taken down real hard and I sprained a muscle in my left shoulder,” Wallace said. “I was in so much pain that I couldn’t even turn.”

Southwest scored on its first possession when William Jarrett ended a 57-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

The Cougars’ next touchdown was the set up by turnover. The Oilers were set to punt, but the snap went over punter Steve Raack’s head. Southwest’s Aaron Dotson recovered the ball at the West L.A. 15 and Takim Brown scored on the first play from scrimmage. Brown finished with 90 yards in 20 carries.

Jarrett, a sophomore, scored Southwest’s last touchdown with 1:29 left to play on a 50-yard run. Wallace ran in the two-point conversion.

“Both teams played hard,” Wallace said. “We just played a little harder and we were a little quicker.

“A lot of our guys have friends that play at West L.A. so it’s kind of a buddy buddy game. Coach didn’t want us to play that kind of game and we didn’t.”