COC Falls In Final Game Of The Season

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – The College of the Canyons football team lost a 20-14 first-half lead on Saturday night and was held scoreless in the second half as the Gauchos of Saddleback College defeated COC 31-20 in the Western State Bowl.

COC built a six-point lead on a pair of James Rodriguez field goals and two touchdowns, but couldn't keep it going after the break. The Cougars only got into Saddleback territory twice in the second half – once to the Saddleback 23 and the second to the 37 on the last drive of the game.

The Cougars fumbled on their first possession of the game on the COC 17-yard line, which set up a quick score for the Gauchos. Saddleback took a 7-0 lead, but the Cougars' Kalen Powell intercepted a Gaucho pass on the COC 37-yard line and returned it 20 yards to the Saddleback 43. Quarterback Eric Brown then connected with Mychal Rivera for a 20-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7-7.

Things continued to get better for the Cougar defense, which intercepted another ball on the next Saddleback drive – this time by Kenny Shanahan. The offense couldn't do much in terms of moving the ball into the end zone and had to punt the ball away. But once again, on the next Saddleback possession, Antwan Smith picked another pass, but the offense couldn't take advantage of the Saddleback turnover.

COC went on to score on a 31-yard field goal, which was coupled by a Saddleback score and the Cougars were down 14-10 in the second quarter with 3:39 left.

On the following Cougar drive Brown aired out an 81-yard pass to wide receiver DJ Stephens for a touchdown, for Brown's longest pass of the year. The pass gave COC a 17-14 lead with 3:21 left before the break, but that would not be the last Cougar points of the evening. With no time left on the clock, Rodriguez hit a 47-yard field goal for his longest score of the season. The three points gave COC a 20-14 lead at the break, but that would be the final Cougars score.

The Gauchos had their way with the Cougars in the second half, as they scored on a 35-yard field goal and had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, while smothering COC's offense.

Brown finished the night going 16-of-27 for 208 yards, his best outing of the year, and two touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 70 yards. Stephens had seven catches for 131 yards and one touchdown.

Four different Cougars had interceptions for COC – Shanahan, Powell, Smith and Arron Fisher – and defensive back Justin Cudworth led the defense with 11 sacks, six solo.