COC Gets Knocked Off By Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –Two games into the season and College of the Canyons holds an even record of 1-1 after a 17-14 stunning loss to Santa Barbara City College on Saturday night. The Cougars, who entered the 2009 season as the fifth-ranked team in the state according to the California Community College Football Coaches Association state rankings, have not lost to the Vaqueros since the program was reinstated in 1998, and have won nine consecutive contests against them by an average of 32 ppg.

That all changed Saturday evening as the defending National Division, Northern Conference champions' final drive with 2:44 left in the game ended when the Cougars could not convert on a nine-play orchestration that brought COC as close at the eight-yard line. The loss was the first against an American Division team, which is considered the lower tier of squads since the realignment of the Southern California football programs last year.

The Cougars had trouble moving the ball during the game, but handled it better in the first half against a Vaquero team that gave up 484 yards of total offense last week versus Allan Hancock. The defense helped COC score the first TD of the night with a sack of the SBCC play caller that resulted in a fumble and recovery by COC on the Santa Barbara 31-yard line. Six plays later running back B.J. Iverson punched the ball in on fourth-and-1 for COC's first score of the game.

With a 7-0 lead, Canyons held the Vaqueros to a 28-yard field goal, while COC posted one more score in the second quarter – a 5-yard carry by running back Ryan Zirbel with 1:50 left before the break.

Heading into the second half with a 14-3 lead, all COC had to do was hold the Vaqueros at bay. But, of the six possessions that COC had, four drives were 3-and-out, one was a missed 42-yard field goal and the other was an interception.

While the Vaqueros couldn't get anything going in the first three quarter, the roles were reversed in the final period. Santa Barbara opened up the fourth quarter with its longest possession: a five-minute, 14-play, 83-yard march that concluded with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

With the Cougars holding only a four-point lead, 14-10, the Vaqueros defense put more pressure on COC, which again went 3-and-out and set up for the punt. The snap to kicker Brandon Behrad went over his head, and quick pick up by Behrad moved COC back even more. Santa Barbara retained the rushed short kick at COC's 13-yard line. Working with a short field, the Vaqueros quickly got the ball into the end zone to take a three-point lead, 17-14, over the visiting Cougars with 7:59 left.

COC had another chance to score on the ensuing drive, but quarterback Eric Brown's pass was intercepted at the 8-yard line. The final Cougar drive with 2:44 left moved the Cougars down to the 8-yard line again, but this time Morales was sacked for a loss of 11 yards, moving COC to the 19-yard line. With the Cougars flustered by the stifling SBCC defense on fourth-and-19, the final play resulted in another loss of yardage – a 7-yard rushing loss by Mark Urbina.

COC has not started a season with a 1-1 record since 2007 when they won the first game of the season against Long Beach City and then fell to Fullerton the next weekend. COC went on to win seven consecutive games following the loss and finished in second place in conference.

COC only had 212 yards of total offense, 102 yards on the ground and 110 yards in the air. The defense did hold the Vaqueros to 52 yards rushing, but gave up 166 receiving yards.

Iverson led the team with 10 carries for 50 yards and one score. Receiver Mychal Rivera pulled down three receptions for 16 yards and starting quarterback Morales was 12-of-23 for 103 yards and two interceptions.

Sophomore Evan Harrington recorded 12 tackles, four solo, a forced fumble and a sack for 13 yards. Safety Josh Gibbs had eight tackles, six solo.

COC travels to L.A. Valley College, another American Division school, on Saturday, Sept. 19 for a 7 p.m. game.