COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Harbor Rallies to Win, 24-21; El Camino Is 41-25 Winner

Harbor College scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, capped by Jon Williams’ 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, to rally for a 24-21 Western State Conference victory over host Compton on Saturday.

The Seahawks (6-0, 5-0 in conference play) trailed, 21-7, entering the fourth quarter after Compton quarterback Enrique Arnero’s three touchdown passes.

Compton (0-6, 0-5) broke a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter when Arnero passed to flanker TJ Kirshbauer for a 96-yard touchdown. Later in the quarter, Kirshbauer caught another Arnero pass and turned it into a 33-yard TD to give the Tartars a 14-point lead.

Freshman defensive back and return specialist Chris Smith was instrumental in the Seahawks’ comeback. With the Seahawks trailing, 21-14, Smith returned a punt 53 yards to Compton’s 27-yard line.

Harbor scored five plays later on a three-yard run by T.J. Palatia with 3 minutes 41 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Compton’s Jerry Stone fumbled after being hit and Smith recovered the ball on the Tartars’ 26-yard line.

But two penalties and strong play by Compton’s defense forced Harbor to position the ball for a field-goal attempt. The Seahawks let the clock run down to three seconds before calling on Williams.

As Williams lined up to kick, Harbor Coach Don Weems looked away from the field.

“I just didn’t need to look,” Weems said. “This was one of the greatest come-from-behind victories I’ve been associated with.”

Harbor quarterback Gabe Sadi was thankful the Seahawks got an opportunity to win the game.

“It started raining and I just knew (Smith’s play) was from the heavens,” Sadi said. “We knew we had to come through and not lose.”

Compton Coach Lalo Mendoza was worried about a Harbor comeback.

“A team like Harbor, which is 5-0, is going to find a way to go 6-0,” Mendoza said. “It’s just that simple.”

Harbor may have taken Compton lightly, but Weems was quick to credit the Tartars.

“We played horribly in the first half,” he said. “Compton played superbly. Give them all the credit for the first half. Give us all the credit for the second half.”

Harbor running back Damon Moore gained 50 of his 56 yards rushing in the second half. His four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter started Harbor’s comeback.

El Camino 41, Orange Coast 25--Sophomore running back Ivan Wilson set a Mission Conference record with six rushing touchdowns in the Warriors’ victory at Torrance.

Wilson led all rushers with 256 yards in 26 carries and scored on runs of 18, one, eight, two, three, and 56 yards.

His final touchdown came with 1 minute 11 seconds left in the game and gave El Camino (5-1, 4-1 in conference play) a 41-25 lead.

Southwest 23, West Los Angeles 14--The Cougars improved to 2-3-1 by defeating the Oilers (2-4) in a Western State Conference game at Southwest.