Late in the third quarter wide receiver Andre Buford waits for a punt return only to fumble it and have Grossmont recover it and that changed the momentum of the game.
That turned out to be a big play for the Griffins, who won 27-22 over the Warriors in the 2009 Beach Bowl on Saturday night.
This was the second straight lost for the Warriors, after last week’s 42-28 lost to Cerritos College.
“Will it’s never fun ending the season on a lost and it doesn’t happen that often around here,” coach John Featherstone said.
“I’m really disappointed that I couldn’t do anything about it,” running back Tony Sekona said.
The Warriors first touchdown was on a fumble recovery being run 84 yards for a touchdown.
“Our first touchdown was on a turnover, but what hurt us was the punt return in the third quarter,” Featherstone said.
Punter Troy Gravett punt was blocked by Grossmomt linebacker Derek Holsapple and recovered by linebacker Keven Woods, who run 23 yards to the EC three yard line.
“Will we took too long to kick it and we just took too much time,” Featherstone said.
After a seven yard touchdown by running back Jeremy Tucker, coach Featherstone decided to goe for a two-point conversion, but it failed.
“Will we thought we had a real good play design to get two pints and pretty much the story of the whole season, we didn’t convert it and we had to goe for two a second time and didn’t convert it and that hurt us losing those two extra points,” Featherstone said.
In the second quarter, safety Eric Taylor would block a 40 yard field goal on placekicker Troy Muenzer.
“Will that good anytime you block a field goal, we made enough play’s (on defense) to win the game,” Featherstone said.
The Warriors where outscored 17-7 in the fourth quarter, turning a 15-10 lead to a 27-15 deficit with five to goe in the fourth.
“Yeah we didn’t make the play’s and we had a couple of drop ball’s,” Featherstone said.
The Warriors had 230 yards of offense, including 66 yards on the ground and 164 throw the air.
On offense, quarterback Bo Napoleon went 17-37 for 164 yards and a touchdown throw and sacked four times.
Running back Tucker had 44 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
Wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins had eight catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, strong safety and linebacker Terrance Williams was named the Beach Bowl Defensive Player of the game with seven tackles and two force fumbles and a fumble recovery and one tackle for lost and one quarterback hit and a touchdown.
The Warriors will send four player’s to the Southern California Football Association All-Conference team, the following player’s are on the list: wide receiver Thompkins, cornerback Mike Harris, defensive line Daniel Stewart and center Kyle McManus.