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The Pasadena City College Lancers football team could not overcome critical turnovers and penalties as they fell 45-10 to the Golden West College Rustlers (5-1) on Saturday, Oct. 12 at PCC’s Robinson Stadium.

Daniel Valencia / Courier Number 36 Andre Tayler scores the first two points of the night for the Lancers as he blocked the Rustler's punt at Robinson Staduium on Saturday 12, 2013.
Daniel Valencia / Courier
Andre Tayler (36) blocks the Rustler’s punt at Robinson Stadium on Saturday 12, 2013.

The Lancers (0-6) managed to tally 12 penalties that cost the team 105 yards of field position as well as two lost fumbles and a momentum-killing interception.

The crucial interception by backup quarterback Andrew Mathews occurred late in the third quarter with Pasadena driving, down only 24-10 at the time. Mathews replaced starting quarterback Darrian Cazarin in the third quarter, but threw the interception deep in Rustlers’ territory.

“It was absolutely an ill-advised throw,” said Lancers head coach Fred Fimbres. “The quarterback had some green grass in front of him and rather than just running the ball, he tried to force a throw. I don’t think anyone in football advises a quarterback to throw against his body.”

On the drive prior to the interception, Mathews had a touchdown throw to wide receiver Turner Jackson called back because of two separate penalties for holding and a personal foul.

Earlier in the first quarter, facing a 7-0 deficit, Pasadena got on the board with a safety when defensive back Andre Taylor blocked a punt that went through the back of the end zone. The score at the end of the first quarter was 7-2 in favor of the Rustlers.

The Lancers’ lone touchdown of the game came on their first drive of the second quarter when running back Marciss Grigsby ran for a nine-yard touchdown. Backup quarterback Darius Robinson ran in the two-point conversion, making the score 10-7 with the Lancers leading.

“On that drive we were finally able to drive down the length of the field,” said Fimbres.

The Lancers were unable to capitalize on opportunities the rest of the game, which resulted in 38 unanswered points by Golden West after the Pasadena touchdown and only 208 total yards on offense for the Lancers.

Almost half of the Lancers’ time of possession on offense was in the third quarter alone, but they were unable to score because of penalties, turnovers and the conversion of just one of 13 third down opportunities.

The game was put out of reach in the fourth quarter following the Mathews interception when the Rustlers scored on three straight possessions, resulting in a lopsided 45-10 loss for the Lancers.

Pasadena was again led on defense by Dalyou Pierson, a six foot three inch, 260-pound defensive lineman who had another two sacks to bring his total to 9.5 sacks on the season. With four games remaining on the season, Pierson is closing in on the sack record of 14 held by PCC Hall of Fame player Curtis Seagrove, which was set in 1966.

Also contributing on defense was defensive back Austin Alexander, who led the Lancers with nine total tackles on the night.

Coach Fimbres and other members of his staff were quick to praise the defense, who forced two fumbles, but fatigue began to show late in the game.

“Our defense did keep us in it, but they were out on the field too long in the second half,” said defensive coordinator Carl Lopez.

The Lancers travel to play Moorpark College on Saturday, Oct. 19 with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.

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