Cougars End Season With 27-21 Loss to Cerritos

Entering Saturday's regular season finale, No. 13 College of the Canyons had an outside chance of earning a postseason bowl berth. Unfortunately for the Cougars, they came close, but would come up just short in a heartbreaking 27-21 loss to No. 7 Cerritos College at Cougar Stadium.

The Cougars got an early lead after a 37-yard fumble recovery and return for a score by sophomore defensive end Westly Johnson. Canyons led 7-0 after Eric Kreitz converted the extra point.

Johnson also added a solid all-around game defensively, and was credited with 10 total tackles and 1.5 sacks to give him a team-leading 7.5 sacks for the year.

COC's lead would be short-lived, however, as Cerritos dominated play for the rest of the first half. The Falcons would score on a pair of touchdown passes from QB Jimmy Walker, and later returned a blocked field goal attempt 80 yards for a their third score.

COC came out for the second half ready to mount a comeback — and possibly clinch a berth for a postseason game.

On the first possession of the second half, COC's dual quarterbacks quickly led the attack down the field. Tony Dawson connected with Anthony Fowler for a 21-yard pass-and-catch to bring the Cougars into the Cerritos red zone.

Devon Dunn entered the game and quickly rushed for 12 yards on his first two snaps in the second half. Tony Dawson would finish off the drive with a 13-yard score to bring the Cougars back within a touchdown, but COC still trailed 21-14.

White finished the game with seven catches for 71 yards to go with 91 return yards, in what would be his final game as a Cougar. On the season he led the team with 55 receptions for 667 receiving yards and six touchdowns. 

The 15-play scoring drive took nearly seven and half minutes off the clock, and after another Eric Kreitz extra point, tied the game at 21-21.

Tony Dawson finished the game completing 10-of-19 pass attempts for 90 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore quarterback also ran for 67 yards on 16 attempts including a rushing touchdown.

On the year Dawson led the Cougars in nearly every offensive category, finishing 84-of-162 for 1,057 yards with eight touchdowns, with a team-high 537 rushing yards and eight more touchdowns on the ground.

Defensively in 2014, the Cougars have been led all year long by several key contributors on that side of the ball. COC sophomore middle linebacker Kenneth Jacobs finished the season with 98 total tackles and added 5 tackles for loss including one sack. COC defensive back Austin Murrillo finished his sophomore season with 63 tackles, two interceptions and one sack.

Midway through the fourth quarter the Falcons faced a key 4th and 1 at COC's 23-yard line. The Cougars could not keep Cerritos from earning a new set of downs, and two plays later the Falcons found the end zone on a 12-yd touchdown run by running back DeVonte Carter to take a 27-21 lead.

Though a missed extra point attempt left an opening for the Cougars to possibly take the lead with a late touchdown.

Both teams would trade possessions and field position in the fourth quarter, with the Cougars finally running out of time, and opportunities, to continue their season as Cerritos still led 27-21 when time expired.

Canyons second-year head coach Ted Iacenda and the Cougars finish a hard fought and emotional 2014 season with a 4-6 overall record and 3-3 mark against conference opponents.

COC ends the year tied for fourth place in the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division, Northern League standings.