Cougars Score Eight Touchdowns In First Game Of The Season

QUARTZ HILL, Calif. – The College of the Canyons football team overcame first game jitters on Saturday night after the Antelope Valley Marauders returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, to take control of the game for a 54-14 victory.

No. 4 COC handily defeated the No. 20 Marauders with 501 yards of total offense (270 rushing and 231 passing), while the defense only gave up 150 offensive yards and 10 first downs in 60 minutes.

The Cougars opened the game with a special teams blunder, allowing AVC to return the ball 95 yards for a touchdown and the first points of the evening. Visibly shaken, COC could not move the ball for a first down on the ensuing possession and punted the ball back to AVC. But, the Marauders got a taste of the COC defense, as they too could not move the chains.

A 39-yard punt to sophomore Hayo Carpenter was returned 47 yards for a touchdown, putting COC on the board for the first time.

With the game at 7-all, AVC looked uneasy on the following kickoff that was fumbled and recovered by COC's Matt Miller on Antelope Valley's 28-yard line. A few snaps later, running back Fred Winborn scampered into the end zone with 9:35 left in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown. The kick from sophomore Ricky Drake was good and COC took the lead, 14-7.

COC added seven more points before the end of the quarter on a 4-yard keeper by quarterback Joey Frias that gave the Cougars a 21-7 advantage.

Both teams remained scoreless for the second quarter, but COC opened up its lead even more to start the second half with two quick scores.

At the 10:36 mark of the third, quarterback Brad McClellan turned in his first touchdown of the year on a one-yard carry and put COC up 27-7. COC was back in the end zone in a few seconds when defensive back Josh Gibbs intercepted the AVC's quarterback's pass, and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown at the 10:01 mark.

Carpenter would score two more times in the third quarter – a 21-yard and 54-yard pass from Frias and McClellan respectively – to extend the Cougar's lead to 47-7.

Antelope Valley completed a 77-yard touchdown pass with 8:14 left in the game to cut into the lead, 47-14, but a 47-yard rushing TD from running back Brandon McDonald with 7:24 left in the game kept the Cougars ahead by 40 points.

Carpenter led the receivers with eight catches for 182 yards and two scores, as well as four punt returns for 106 yards and one touchdown. Winborn led all running backs with 17 carries for 127 yards and one touchdown. McClellan and Frias were interception free on the evening after sharing the passing duties. McClellan was 13-of-20 for 170 yards and one touchdown, while Frias was 4-of-8 for 61 yards and a score. Both play callers added a rushing touchdown of their own as well.

Gibbs tallied the lone interception of the games along with two tackles and linebacker Steve Gourley led the defense with seven tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble.

COC is now 9-2 in season openers since football was reinstated at COC in 1998 and 1-0 to start its 2008 campaign.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Sept. 13 for their season home opener against Santa Barbara City. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.