Receiving a pass from quarterback Omar Herrera for a 62-yard touchdown, Raynard Westbrook sets the stage for a Warriors’ comeback.
Warrior fans packed the lone rickety visitors bleachers, at the Grossmont College field in El Cajon Saturday afternoon, eager to support their team against the Griffins.
Next, the Warriors will battle the Golden West Rustlers at 6 p.m. Saturday at Murdock Stadium.
“The whole game I was telling myself that I had to make a big play to help get my team started,” Westbrook said. “Our defense was doing excellent, those guys are all out there doing good holding our backs, so I had to do something to help them out.”
Two minutes and seven plays in the late of the third quarter, defensive lineman Julian Camper picked off Griffins quarterback Ryan Woods’ pass and returned it for 32 yards.
One minute after that interception, Herrera took advantage of the interception, connecting with wide receiver Ronald Gaudin who ran 47 yards and a score to give the Warriors a 21-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“We made the right plays at the right times and we came out and played a pretty darn good second half,” Coach John Featherstone said.
However, Featherstone did express both concern and excitement over his Warriors’ performance on both ends early on in the game.
“They weren’t taking advantage of some of the errors we were making on offense, they had a chance to definitely go up more then seven zip,” he said. “Our defense definitely played pretty darn good football.”
Grossmont was held to a mere 68 rushing yards, Saturday.
The Griffins, however, could not stop Herrera and the passing attack from showing its offensive prowess by completing 15 of 22 passes for 230 yards. Herrera accounted for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing.
“We threw the ball pretty well but we need to improve our running game,” Featherstone said. “Considering Grossmont’s one of the best programs in San Diego, we’re happy we got out of there with a 21-14 win.”
The Rustlers are 1-1 and come off a 39-22 win against Glendale last Saturday.
In a state poll done this preseason by the California Community College Football Coaches Association, Huntington Beach was ranked No. 21, just above No. 11 ranked EC.
“They’re a well coached team,” Featherstone said. “Defensively they’re sound and were going to have to play hard to beat them.”
The Warriors’ bout, Saturday, with the Rustlers will be the last home game before facing cross-town rivals Harbor College for the first time since 1988.
“Our goal is to show improvement. We want to get a little bit better every week,” Featherstone said. “We know that as long as we keep winning we control our own destiny.”