Glendale Community College football schedule has plenty of sizzle, no matchup changes

GLENDALE — On an office wall next to the desk of Glendale Community College football Coach John Rome is a calendar detailing important upcoming events. They range from the practice schedule to the dates of the games the Vaqueros will take part in during the 2015 season.

Rome and the Vaqueros will indeed be familiar with the squads they will begin facing in a little less than three months. Glendale will play the same 10 teams it faced last season, with the noteworthy exception of swapping venues.

“The schedule we played last year was very challenging,” said Rome, whose team finished 9-2, 6-1 in the Pacific Conference American Division for second place before taking part in the Patriotic Bowl against Palomar. “We think it’s going to be more of the same again this coming year.

“Some teams that we will be facing will have new staffs, so there will be some adjusting. We’ll do our best to get through the schedule and see where we’ll end up.”

Glendale’s opponents tallied a 42-56 record (.428 winning percentage) with a pair of bowl game appearances last season. All of Glendale’s opponents are members of the American Conference, with the three non-Pacific Division squads coming from the Mountain Division.

Glendale will participate in three nonconference games, two on the road, before playing seven division games. The Vaqueros will play four division home games that will include visits to Sartoris Field by rivals Santa Monica and Santa Barbara.

Glendale will begin its season with a nonconference road matchup against East L.A. at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5. Glendale posted a 41-0 win last season.

“They will have a lot of turnover from the team we faced last year,” said Rome, who has piloted the Vaqueros to two straight winning seasons. “They have basically a new coaching staff, so they have the type of team that can turn it around real quick.

“You go into a season-opening game looking to elevate your confidence and maybe see where you stand.”

Glendale will then take part in its home opener against Mount San Jacinto at 7 p.m. Sept. 12.

When the Vaqueros and Eagles met last season in Riverside County, temperatures topped out above 90 degrees on the field. The heat didn’t deter Glendale, which posted a 30-8 win.

“We played them down there for a 1 p.m. game and it was so hot,” Rome said. “One of the other things I remember about them is that they are very physical and I expect them to be that way again.

“That will be a real good test for our guys again.”

Glendale will then compete against another team from the Inland Empire. The Vaqueros will meet San Bernardino Valley in their final nonconference game at 6 p.m. Sept. 19.

In last season’s matchup, Glendale raced out to a big lead before holding off San Bernardino Valley in the fourth quarter to register a 38-28 victory.

“I feel like that will be another excellent test because it will get us ready for conference,” Rome said. “I think San Bernardino will be a very good team this year.”

The Vaqueros will begin division play with a home contest against L.A. Pierce at 7 p.m. Sept. 26.

Glendale registered a lopsided 62-7 win last season, though Rome said he’s expecting a closer matchup from the new-look Brahmas.

“It will be good to open at home,” Rome said. “Pierce will have a new coaching staff, just like East L.A.

“We don’t know that much about them, but they too can always turn it around just like that.”

The Vaqueros will next meet visiting Santa Monica, which handed Glendale its lone conference defeat last season, at 7 p.m. Oct. 3.

Santa Monica recorded a 48-31 win last season en route to winning the division championship. The Corsairs, who haven’t lost a division game the last three seasons, will make their first trip to Glendale since 2012.

“We’d like to be that team to try to end it,” Rome said. “It’s a game we’ve had circled for a real long time.

“It’s also a game that could come down to who might be in line to win [the division].”

Following a bye Oct. 10, Glendale will play three of its final five games on the road.

The second half will begin with a contest against host Antelope Valley at 7 p.m. Oct. 17. Glendale notched a 44-0 win last season.

“They always seem to be a tough team when they are at home,” Rome said. “You also never know what the weather conditions will be.

“It can be very warm at that time still or it might be very cool and windy and could effect the outcome of maybe a field-goal or extra-point attempt.”

The Vaqueros will play their first day game of the season at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 against visiting L.A. Southwest. Glendale rolled to a 35-7 win last season.

“They have had some tough luck on the field, but they always have a great talent level,” Rome said.

Glendale will embark thereafter on a two-game road trip. The Vaqueros will meet West L.A. at 1 p.m. Oct. 31, followed by a contest against L.A. Valley at 6 p.m. Nov. 7. Glendale defeated West L.A., 35-10, before earning a 26-17 victory against Valley last season.

Rome said both matchups will probably present different challenges.

“No matter where or when we face West L.A., they always seem to give us fits,” Rome said. “Valley can also be a tough test because they usually bring in some talented players at the skill positions.”

Glendale will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Santa Barbara at 1 p.m. Nov. 14. Glendale picked up a 47-7 win last season.

“That’s another game that can come down to vying for a bowl bid,” Rome said.” We’ve gone up their to play them, the last couple of times, so we are glad they have to come here now. That should be another good game.”