PCC made some history in Saturday night’s 31-20 victory over visiting El Camino-Compton Center. Kendell Jefferson’s 45-yard punt return for a touchdown was the Lancers (3-2 overall, 1-0 in conference) first (punt return TD) in six years. Yusef Muhammad’s 91-yard kickoff return for a score to start the second half was the first time PCC […]
PCC made some history in Saturday night’s 31-20 victory over visiting El Camino-Compton Center.
Kendell Jefferson’s 45-yard punt return for a touchdown was the Lancers (3-2 overall, 1-0 in conference) first (punt return TD) in six years.
Yusef Muhammad’s 91-yard kickoff return for a score to start the second half was the first time PCC had done that since George W. Bush was President (2007)
It’s been six years since the Lancers were over .500 at this point, and Reggie Harvey’s 103 yards was the most rushing yards since 2012.
All of that added up to a Lancers victory that wasn’t even as close as the score.
In fact, video tends to show the EC-Compton final scoring play should have never counted.
Russell Shaw caught a pass from Johnny Bailey and brought it down to about the goal line.
The ball never appeared to cross the goal line, Shaw fumbled the ball and PCC’s Jesus Crespo recovered.
The side referee, though, put both his hands up to signal a touchdown, which seemed to surprise many on the field.
Yusef Muhammad has been a constant source of big plays and a momentum provider.
Muhammad’s 91-yard TD on the kickoff to start the second half gave PCC a 21-6 lead, and shortly thereafter, he would make a sterling catch down the sideline that would set up a short Reggie Harvey TD run.
Muhammad had two catches for 52 yards and the long kickoff return for the score.
“I thought we played pretty good, but we’re making too many mistakes and penalties,” Muhammad said. “I always put pressure on myself to make the big play. It’s great because sometimes the guys are looking for someone to make a play.”
Harvey’s effort Saturday seemed to revive a lifeless running game, gaining 103 yards on 20 carries, including the 4-yard TD run in the second half that gave the Lancers a 28-8 lead.
Jesse Hanckel finished 10 of 15 for 141 yards, one interception, and a 22-yard TD pass to James Shaw early in the second quarter.
Jordan Bruner had 4 catches for 44 yards, and Joseph Gregory caught 3 passes for 23 yards.
Compton’s (0-5, 0-1) Johnny Bailey was 17 of 32 for 188 yards, he threw TD passes to Harold Johnson (7 yards) and the controversial 8-yard strike to Shaw with 1:15 to play in the game.
Daniel Moreno led the PCC defense with 10 tackles, while Jasper Chavez, Matt Terlizzi and Daeqwan Bailey had 7 tackles apiece.
PCC will travel to West L.A. College next Saturday with an early 1 p.m. kickoff, and Muhammad would like to see the Lancers improve on their 15 penalties for 144 yards.
“It all starts in practice, Muhammad said. “We need to work hard, because it’s conference play.”
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