SMC football defeats Vaqueros
The Santa Monica College Corsairs defeated the previously unbeaten Glendale Community College Vaqueros Saturday afternoon 48-31. SMC’s game plan was different from every other game this season, as they gave the Vaqueros a steady dose of a two headed quarter back attack featuring sophomore Jake Dashnaw through the air and Christian Smith on the ground.
Dashnaw stretched the Vaqueros defense, throwing for 160 yards on 12-16 passing and a touchdown.
But what really seemed to give Glendale trouble was the read-option rushing attack courtesy of quarterback Christian Smith. Smith totaled 50 yards rushing, and 89 yards passing with one touchdown. Twice, Smith managed to rush for 20+ yards and the Corsairs would proceed to score on the .
“I spent the whole offseason getting ready, and when the game’s on the line, and when my number is called, I just have to be ready and make the most of it,” Smith said.
On Smith’s first touchdown drive, head coach Gifford Lindheim elected to go for it on 4th and 13 from Glendale’s 18-yard line, resulting in Smith’s only passing touchdown.
What made the call so impressive was that the Corsairs were easily in field goal range, and down 17-14 with over eleven minutes left in the second quarter.
“[Going for it on 4th down was] Just my feeling. There’s no statistical data to support it, but I’m feeling the game, I’m feeling what our offense is doing, what our defense is doing, and I just thought it was the right time to do that.” Head coach Gifford Lindheim.
The call gave the Corsairs the confidence they needed to finish the game strong, and once again assert their dominance against an early contender for the conference championship.
Although the defense gave up 31 points, their performance is what made the victory possible, as they tallied five sacks, and two interceptions.
The most important interception came at the end of the third quarter by sophomore cornerback Tyler Hasty, who picked up where he left off in his two interception performance against Antelope Valley.
With Glendale driving, and threatening to cut the Corsair's lead to 10, Hasty picked off Glendale quarterback Andre Nunez at the SMC three-yard line, preserving the Corsairs 41-24 lead.
“One of the biggest things is being able to rely on my teammates being there. It makes it possible for me to make plays,” Hasty said. “Both offense, and defense, from week one, to week two, to week three, we’re getting better each week, and we just keep pushing each other. We know it’s not over until the last game of the season. We’re going to finish strong.”
The Corsairs sit on top of the conference after two conference games, with both wins coming in blowout fashion, though, Glendale posed a serious threat to end the Corsairs 23-game conference-winning streak.
But the experience that comes with being three time conference champs is immeasurable, and that showed out on the field Saturday afternoon.
“It was a great challenge for us to be able to step up and be ready, and take on a 4-0 team like Glendale, and come out victorious,” said Lindheim. “I told my team we have to continue to get better every week, every practice until the final tick of the last game.”