Chaffey’s Run Goes Through Grossmont

Carl Beach has had the Chaffey College football program on an upward path since he took over as coach in 1996. On Saturday, the Panthers removed their biggest roadblock to a Foothill Conference championship.

Using a dominating defense and taking advantage of two second-half Grossmont turnovers, Chaffey easily won a showdown between two of the state’s top teams, 38-18, at Chaffey College’s Grigsby Field.

The Panthers (7-0, 5-0) scored 28 points in the second half and dealt Grossmont (6-1, 4-1) its first loss. Chaffey was ranked fourth in the state and Grossmont fifth heading into the game.

Beach, who is 48-13 in five-plus seasons, said the Panthers’ road to a possible major postseason bowl appearance is still filled with potholes.

“We’ve got [San Diego] Mesa next week and that will be difficult,” he said. “They’re a physical team.

“This season is like a pie divided up into many pieces. We’ve got a piece and hopefully we’ll get another piece of it. Hopefully, we’ll get the whole thing in the end.”

Chaffey broke open a 10-6 game in the third quarter on consecutive Grossmont blunders.

Griffin punter Tim Wilson dropped the snap and Chaffey’s Eric Cernas recovered at the Grossmont two-yard line. John Bogarin scored on the next play for a 17-6 lead.

Later, Patrick Connel jarred the ball loose from Grossmont punt returner Erick Peterman and Amon Webster recovered at the 10-yard line. Chaffey converted as Jeff Disney threw three yards to tight end Kaleb Madison for a 24-6 lead.

Overall, Chaffey recovered four fumbles in the second half. The Panthers also sacked quarterback Nick Forston five times.

Disney threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns, completed four passes for 69 yards on a 92-yard drive, ending with a five-yard pass to Artie Allen for the 10-6 halftime lead.