PIERCE vs. SANTA MONICA PREVIEW
BY MATTHEW ROBINSON
After last week’s loss to Antelope Valley College, Pierce College Brahmas wide receiver JUSTIN WYATT said the Santa Monica game would be a like a Super Bowl to him, and that he hopes the rest of the Pierce team treats this game like the Super Bowl, too.
Wyatt sure knew what he was talking about. While the Santa Monica Corsairs----the number one ranked team in the American Division----are headed to their fourth bowl game in the last six seasons of this decade, the Brahmas’ 2015 season will be a wrap by 4:20 p.m. on Saturday November 14.
Once upon a time the Brahmas were in the discussion for a bowl game. But with a season that would rival a roller coaster ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain, those bowl hopes were dashed a long time ago.
Now, the Brahmas have to go up against the big bad wolf of the American Pacific League (APL) in Santa Monica. What a way to end a season, huh? Couldn’t they have played against a lesser team from the APL as to help their momentum or psyche going into the offseason?
This week’s calculus final in Santa Monica (so to speak) for Pierce, is a testament to how life just isn’t fair. Just think, Pierce’s defense has to put up with all these mathematical formulas and two-sentence-long math problems that is the Corsairs’ offense. Every SINGLE week this season, the Corsairs have five or more players who step up on offense to make opposing defense’s lives a living nightmare.
Corsairs quarterback Troy Williams who is the odds-on favorite to get the 2015 APL Offensive Player of the Year honor, committed to the University of Utah only 24 days ago. Life is sweet for that kid, as he spearheads a 9-0 team on their way to another APL title and a bowl game.
Williams is a dual-threat passer and is perfect for Corsair head coach Gifford Lindheim and offensive coordinator Tim Kaub’s spread offense. Williams has the highest completion percentage (66.7%), the second most touchdown passes (23), and he’s tied for the second lowest amount of interceptions thrown with a minimum of 112 passes thrown (just 4 interceptions) in the APL. Plus, he has three running backs at his disposal who can do damage to a defense. And that trio doesn’t include Williams, who is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in California junior college football.
If that isn’t enough, Williams has five receivers who could annoy Pierce on Saturday. And all five of them average over nine yards per reception. Chief among them is Damaja Young (27 catches for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Baxter Kirven (34c, 498y, and 6td’s). Kirven has good hands and is adept at hurting defenses in the short and intermediate areas. Young is the more athletic of the two and may be the Corsairs’ most dangerous receiver. Don’t forget about number three receiver Hakeem Zeb (23 c, 481y, and, 5 td’s). He is a small little squirt, but he is valuable to the Corsairs in sneaky underneath and short routes.
As for the Brahmas on offense, they need not a good game, but a GREAT game from quarterback SEAN SMITH, the guy whose name started this preview (Wyatt), receivers JAMERE AUSTIN and KEOTAE STENHOUSE, their running game, and tight end TREVOR KANTEMAN.
This isn’t the game for the Brahmas’ running backs to feel sorry for themselves because CALVIN HOWARD is gone. Running backs COREY WRIGHT (9 c, 66 y, 2 td’s), YUSUPHA FOSTER (24 c, 105y, 2 td’s), JALEN BOGANS-LOVE (27 c, 96y, 0td), and ABE THOMAS (42 c, 173y, 1td) need to bring it this week.
The Corsairs have the 3rd ranked rushing defense in the APL (126.9 yards allowed per game) and they only allow 3.4 yards per carry. Those numbers look well and good, but will the Corsair defense be able to handle all four of Pierce’s running backs Saturday afternoon? Doubt it.
This is the type of game where Brahma defenders such as safety HOUSTON HAYNES, linebackers TANNER KANTEMAN and COBI WELCH, and defensive linemen ISAIAH STATON, MALIK FORRESTER, and KEONTAE CHAVIES, need to play the game of their lives. This is the last game all six of them will be eligible to wear the red and white, because they’re sophomores.
The Brahmas have nothing to lose and they could play Player-Hater to Santa Monica’s success on Saturday. The Brahmas still have the players to make some noise on Saturday, but that won’t be enough because nobody is stopping the Santa Monica train, not even an angry and motivated Brahma side.
MATTHEW ROBINSON’S PREDICTION: SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 45 PIERCE COLLEGE 24
BY MATTHEW ROBINSON
After last week’s loss to Antelope Valley College, Pierce College Brahmas wide receiver JUSTIN WYATT said the Santa Monica game would be a like a Super Bowl to him, and that he hopes the rest of the Pierce team treats this game like the Super Bowl, too.
Wyatt sure knew what he was talking about. While the Santa Monica Corsairs----the number one ranked team in the American Division----are headed to their fourth bowl game in the last six seasons of this decade, the Brahmas’ 2015 season will be a wrap by 4:20 p.m. on Saturday November 14.
Once upon a time the Brahmas were in the discussion for a bowl game. But with a season that would rival a roller coaster ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain, those bowl hopes were dashed a long time ago.
Now, the Brahmas have to go up against the big bad wolf of the American Pacific League (APL) in Santa Monica. What a way to end a season, huh? Couldn’t they have played against a lesser team from the APL as to help their momentum or psyche going into the offseason?
This week’s calculus final in Santa Monica (so to speak) for Pierce, is a testament to how life just isn’t fair. Just think, Pierce’s defense has to put up with all these mathematical formulas and two-sentence-long math problems that is the Corsairs’ offense. Every SINGLE week this season, the Corsairs have five or more players who step up on offense to make opposing defense’s lives a living nightmare.
Corsairs quarterback Troy Williams who is the odds-on favorite to get the 2015 APL Offensive Player of the Year honor, committed to the University of Utah only 24 days ago. Life is sweet for that kid, as he spearheads a 9-0 team on their way to another APL title and a bowl game.
Williams is a dual-threat passer and is perfect for Corsair head coach Gifford Lindheim and offensive coordinator Tim Kaub’s spread offense. Williams has the highest completion percentage (66.7%), the second most touchdown passes (23), and he’s tied for the second lowest amount of interceptions thrown with a minimum of 112 passes thrown (just 4 interceptions) in the APL. Plus, he has three running backs at his disposal who can do damage to a defense. And that trio doesn’t include Williams, who is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in California junior college football.
If that isn’t enough, Williams has five receivers who could annoy Pierce on Saturday. And all five of them average over nine yards per reception. Chief among them is Damaja Young (27 catches for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Baxter Kirven (34c, 498y, and 6td’s). Kirven has good hands and is adept at hurting defenses in the short and intermediate areas. Young is the more athletic of the two and may be the Corsairs’ most dangerous receiver. Don’t forget about number three receiver Hakeem Zeb (23 c, 481y, and, 5 td’s). He is a small little squirt, but he is valuable to the Corsairs in sneaky underneath and short routes.
As for the Brahmas on offense, they need not a good game, but a GREAT game from quarterback SEAN SMITH, the guy whose name started this preview (Wyatt), receivers JAMERE AUSTIN and KEOTAE STENHOUSE, their running game, and tight end TREVOR KANTEMAN.
This isn’t the game for the Brahmas’ running backs to feel sorry for themselves because CALVIN HOWARD is gone. Running backs COREY WRIGHT (9 c, 66 y, 2 td’s), YUSUPHA FOSTER (24 c, 105y, 2 td’s), JALEN BOGANS-LOVE (27 c, 96y, 0td), and ABE THOMAS (42 c, 173y, 1td) need to bring it this week.
The Corsairs have the 3rd ranked rushing defense in the APL (126.9 yards allowed per game) and they only allow 3.4 yards per carry. Those numbers look well and good, but will the Corsair defense be able to handle all four of Pierce’s running backs Saturday afternoon? Doubt it.
This is the type of game where Brahma defenders such as safety HOUSTON HAYNES, linebackers TANNER KANTEMAN and COBI WELCH, and defensive linemen ISAIAH STATON, MALIK FORRESTER, and KEONTAE CHAVIES, need to play the game of their lives. This is the last game all six of them will be eligible to wear the red and white, because they’re sophomores.
The Brahmas have nothing to lose and they could play Player-Hater to Santa Monica’s success on Saturday. The Brahmas still have the players to make some noise on Saturday, but that won’t be enough because nobody is stopping the Santa Monica train, not even an angry and motivated Brahma side.
MATTHEW ROBINSON’S PREDICTION: SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 45 PIERCE COLLEGE 24
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