JC FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Pierce Alive in WSC Race After 21-7 Win

In dire need of a win to remain in the Western State Conference Southern Division title race, Pierce College used a straightforward approach to defeat host L.A. Southwest, 21-7, Saturday.

“We felt that to come in here and get a win, what you have to do is earn the respect of the (Southwest) players,” Pierce Coach Bill Norton said. “And the way you do that is run right at them.”

With tailback Erik Thomas (90 yards in 18 carries) and fullback Anthony Florence (70 yards in 20 carries) leading the charge, Pierce amassed 225 yards on the ground.

The win evened Pierce’s division record at 1-1. The Brahmas improved to 4-3, 3-3 in conference play.

Pierce opened the scoring on the game’s first series when Thomas capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. The drive featured nine consecutive running plays, including a 27-yard scamper by Thomas, a freshman from Quartz Hill High.

Florence, a 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore, helped give the Brahmas a 14-0 halftime lead when he scored on a one-yard run midway through the second quarter. The touchdown was set up when Southwest (2-4-1, 2-4, 1-1) botched a fourth-down snap on a punt attempt and Pierce took over at the Cougar seven.

Meanwhile, the Pierce defense held the Cougars to 42 yards of offense in the first half (207 in the game). Brahma defensive backs Kesa Harding and Leon Glasgow each recorded an interception and linemen Earl Negrete and Justin Fix each had a sack.

“(Southwest) couldn’t block those guys,” Norton said. “Our defense was just suffocating (the Cougars).”

The Brahmas completed their scoring in the fourth quarter with a 14-play, six-minute drive that covered 91 yards and culminated in a three-yard touchdown pass from Cesar Parra (five of 11 for 54 yards) to running back Dan Reynolds.

Southwest spoiled Pierce’s bid for a shutout when Bobby Savannah connected with Donovon Burks on a 43-yard scoring pass with 30 seconds remaining.

The Cougars were playing without all-conference running back Tarik Brown, who suffered a deep cut in his right arm during a victory over West L.A. last week.