2014 PCC Preview: Football Looking To Move Chains

After struggling offensively to move the football all last season, the Pasadena City College football team has added a bevy of new prospects at the skill positions that have the Lancers excited about the 2014 season.

In his fourth season in charge, PCC head coach Fred Fimbres brought in a high-energy freshman at quarterback in local Muir High product Dejon Williams, who was the Pasadena Star-News Offensive Player of the Year and Pacific League MVP. Williams averaged more 200 yards a game passing and totaled 20 touchdown throws in helping Muir go 11-2 and win the league crown.

Williams is expected to help PCC improve on an offense that averaged just 14.3 points a game and only recorded 72 passing first downs in 10 games.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Williams will have a talented corps of receivers to throw the ball to in sophomore transfers Ahmad Springer (Michigan’s Concordia University, 2011, led team in all-purpose yardage) and Ruben Lawhorn (Grossmont College, 2011). Returning from last year is top kick returner J. Turner Jackson, who also made 16 receptions while averaging 24.2 yards per return, and Ricky Blair, who is a medical redshirt freshman.

“We feel we have improved our talent at the skill positions and that should kickstart the offense,” Fimbres said. “Balance between passing and rushing is important to us. We have to advance the ball, control the ball, and not force our defense to be on the field as much as they were last year. Big plays can happen for us too with veteran talents.”

PCC’s top running back could be 2012 returner Zander Anding, who gained 223 yards in 63 carries that year. Anding was a top performer out of Burbank Burroughs High and showed flashes of brilliance when he led PCC with 89 yards in a loss to Canyons. Also at running back, freshmen Timothy Jones (Lawndale High) and Justin Carroll (Guilford High in Illinois) have impressed in pre-season practices.

The team’s all-freshmen offensive line has shaped up with Ronald Cardenas (Bassett High, left guard), Bryan Martinez (Torres HS, left tackle), Roshad Leslie (Douglass High, center), Pablo Medina (Montebello, right tackle), and Jordan Fuamatu (Pearl City, Hawaii, right guard) as projected starters. Laurence Lopez (Muir), Tyrone Jacobs (Bonnabel, Louisiana), and Harvest Morgan (Bessemer City, Alabama) are also in the O-line mix as well as the team’s biggest athlete Jesus Seanez (6-4, 340 pounds, Garfield High).

After carrying only one true kicker last year due to ineligibility and injuries right before the ’13 season, Fimbres now has a corps of kickers/punters. Franklyn Cervanka, a redshirt bounceback from NCAA Division I Wagner College (New York) after earning numerous honors at La Canada High, is the team’s placekicker. The punting chores is still a three-player battle going into the season between freshmen Daylon Guzman-Olilvas (Walnut High), Jairo Gomez (Burroughs), and sophomore transfer Jose Platero (Granada Hills, College of the Redwoods, 2012).

PCC’s defense is hurt by the loss of All-State sack master Dalyou Pierson (now at Iowa State), but the team is primed with a veteran secondary. The Lancers’ defensive backs include the returning sophomore brother tandem of cornerback Evan Alexander (one interception, five breakups) and strong safety Austin Alexander (50 tackles, most among all ’13 freshmen).

Also returning are free safeties in Rodon Ogilvie (32 tackles) and 2012 starter Idrissa Simpson, who was second on that squad in tackles with 41. Another letterman Marlon Dobbins (20 tackles) continues the veteran theme. The team’s top freshmen DBs are Robert Morgan (Oaks Christian High) and Paul Gandara (Eagle Rock) while sophomore transfer Cinwon Whitehead (Independence Community College/Lovejoy HS, Georgia).

PCC’s newcomer linebacker corps features Pacific League Defensive MVP in Muir High graduate and freshman Terry Wilson and Anthony Johnson (Washington High, Florida), both at the outside spots. At inside linebacker, freshmen Jalyn Williams (Cathedral), Sean Cowell (La Salle) and Charles Myles (Pasadena High) have reached high on the depth chart.

The defensive line welcomes the return of Serge Vita (24 tackles, four QB hurries) and the addition of Kevin Bailey-Adair, yet another local product out of Monrovia High. In the trenches, Freddie Barnes (PHS), Dyaire Hicks (Timber Creek Regional High, New Jersey), Renato Hernandez (Delano High), Dennis Vaughn (Muir), and Jasper Iheaso (All-Area selection also from Muir) are all new to college football.

“We’re experienced and strong in the secondary, but the talent at both linebacker and the D-line is such that we should see a big change in stopping our opponents,” Fimbres said. “We got hurt by giving up long plays and that’s a priority to not let happen as best we can in 2014.”

PCC has added a four new assistant coaches in offensive coordinator Bill Laslett, wide receivers coach Pete Bisson, offensive line coach George Naum, and running backs coach Don Nelson. Returning to the staff are defensive line coach Miguel Gutierrez, safeties coach Addison Hawthorne, cornerbacks coach Peter Vargas, kickers coach Vicente Gonzalez, and long-time athletic trainer Rudy Aguilar, who continues his role as strength and conditioning coach.

“We’re a hungry program,” Fimbres said. “We have a young team, but one that can excel quickly. The goal is to turn this thing around and get PCC back to playing the type of hard-nosed competitive football that defines our school’s history.”

PCC opens the 2014 season on Saturday, Sept. 6 when the Lancers host El Camino College. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Robinson Stadium. It will be the 40th football encounter between the two colleges. The Lancers have had strong success in season openers with a 57-30-2 overall record as they enter their 90th year hosting the sport.

Quickie PCC 2014 Football Facts

Member Conference: SCFA National Northern
Current Roster: 85 players (additions expected by next week)
Returning Sophomores: 10
Sophomore Transfers: 5
Pasadena Area high school newcomers: 16
Total Freshmen: 70

PCC’s 2014 complete schedule is at the following link:

http://www.pasadena.edu/athletics/schedule.cfm?dept=football