Kasdorf, White Rally Cougars Past Cerritos

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons football team made a critical stop against Cerritos College on Saturday night, as the Cougars defended a two-point conversion with two minutes left in the game, to hold on for a 38-36 victory over the Falcons.

COC and Cerritos were back and forth for the first three quarters, as the two teams were dead even at 24 shortly after halftime.

Cerritos scored a touchdown to end the third quarter and made it 30-24 in favor of the Falcons.

Trailing in the fourth quarter, sophomore Quarterback Ryan Kasdorf connected with first-year wide receiver Tim White on a 25-yard touchdown pass to give COC a 31-30 lead with 14:52 left to go in the game.

Ten minutes later, Kasdorf found White again for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Cougars a 38-30 lead.

Cerritos College scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 1:57 left to go in the game to make it 38-36 and a successful two-point try would have tied the game, but quarterback Morgan Fennell threw an incomplete pass and the Cougars were able to hold on for the win.

Kasdorf went 22-of-31 for 357 yards and four scores. White caught six passes for a team-high 103 yards and two scores, while first-year tight end Dan Vear also hauled in two touchdown passes.

The Cougars had 483 yards offensively (357 yards passing), as Cerritos had 365 yards of total offense (245 yards rushing).

Although COC gave up 245 yards rushing, they held Cerritos quarterback to only 120 yards passing, while sacking him twice and intercepting one of his passes.

First-year defensive back Vanard Placide had eight tackles and the lone interception, while sophomore safeties Jesse Sampson and Khalil Bolling and freshman linebacker Joey Cicoria all recorded 11 tackles each.

With the victory, the Cougars improve to 5-4 on the season. Canyons will host Allan Hancock in the last regular season game on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m.