El Camino’s late rally was led by freshman kicker Santiago Arango who converted five field goals to help the Warriors to a 29-20 conference win over host Chaffey College last Saturday.
The Warriors got off to a slow start as Chaffey took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman running back Nicholas Hutson broke loose for a 12-yard touchdown run and Arango nailed a 23-yard field goal to cut the Panthers’ lead, 13-10, in the second quarter.
“We lacked emotion and passion,” running backs coach Ryan Winkler said about the teams first half play. “Once we woke up and started to play, we knew we could beat them.”
It was a tale of two halves, like most games this season. The Warriors trailed at halftime, 20-13. The defense was able to shut out the Panthers’ offense in the second half.
“We didn’t really play to our ability in the first half,” sophomore defensive back Nathaniel Vaughn, who finished with eight tackles and an interception, said. “We picked up our slack and figured out a way to come back and shut them out in the second half.”
Sophomore quarterback David Sills hit freshman wide receiver Damien Bernard for 34-yard touchdown and Arango connected on three field goals in the second half to seal the win.
Sills completed 15 of 22 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Johnnell Jackson rushed for 126 yards on 15 carries.
“The coaches put together a great game plan going into the game,” Jackson said. “They put us in the best situations throughout the game and we executed and got the job done.”
The Warriors will host Long Beach City College on Saturday for the season finale. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Offensive line coach Gene Engle will coach in his final game Saturday as he is set to retire after 35 years with the football program.
During Engle and former EC head coach John Feathersone’s tenure, the Warriors won 11 conference titles, five consecutive Southern California playoff appearances, 19 bowl games and 21 finishes ranked nationally.
“He is a legend,” Winkler said. “I learned a lot from coach Engle and I am blessed to be on the staff for the final season of his storied career at El Camino.”
