PCC Football Can’t Catch Up to Ventura, 50-19

Saturday night started well for the host Pasadena City College football team in its SCFA National Northern Conference game against SoCal No. 5-rated Ventura. Quarterback Trevor Hampton completed the contest’s opening drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Zander Anding. The play capped a 75-yard series that saw Hampton connect on all six of his attempts and give PCC a 7-0 lead.

From that point on, Ventura throttled the Lancers, scoring the game’s next 43 points in posting a 50-19 victory at Robinson Stadium. PCC dropped to 2-5 and 2-2 in conference play while the Pirates improved to 4-3 and a perfect 3-0 to lead the NNC.

Hampton finished with three TD throws, all to Anding, including two in a 24 second span late in the fourth quarter. In his first collegiate start, Hampton had a busy evening, completing 27 of 50 passes for 330 yards and just one interception.

Ventura jumped ahead of PCC, 13-7, on a blocked punt and 53-yard TD return by Mike Cirino with 2:08 left in the first quarter. Running backs Aaron Stanton and Paul Harris each scored TDs on a run and a pass in the first half. A Jake Lanski 30-yard field goal gave the Pirates a commanding 36-7 lead by halftime.

In the fourth quarter, Hampton hit Anding for a 21-yard TD throw with little less than five minutes remaining. A successful ensuing onside kick by Franklyn Cervanka allowed PCC to recover the ball near midfield. Anding then took a short pass from Hampton and drove through a few Ventura tacklers down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown play. Overall, the sophomore Anding tied for the team lead in rushing with 39 yards in 14 carries and he added eight receptions for 107 yards.

Wide receiver J. Turner Jackson made 11 receptions for 66 yards while receiver Ricky Blair caught five passes for 123 yards. On the ground, Sean Mardis rushed for 39 yards in 10 carries. The defense was paced by lineman Serge Vita, who had a sack and a forced fumble with three of his five tackles resulting in negative yardage. Linebacker Jalyn Williams led PCC with eight tackles.

PCC next plays at Moorpark in a NNC game on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.