El Camino Confirms #1 Ranking in a Convincing Romp Over Grossmont
September 1, 2007
By Jim Lowder
JCFootball.com Correspondent
Torrance, CA - Hats off to the #1 El Camino Warriors, who demonstrated college football mastery over a game but inexperienced Grossmont team on Saturday, in the opening game of the 2007 season.
The Warriors could be likened to a massive, finely tuned, supercharged 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce racing engine. They were hitting on all cylinders, dominating nearly every phase of the game in their convincing 56-13 rout over the #6 ranked Griffins. -ELCO" ran and passed at will, amassing 604 offensive yards and limiting the Griffin aerial and ground attacks to a total of 127 yards. By the end of the first half, the outcome was not in doubt.
Nor was the courage of the Griffins in doubt, however, as they continued to play every series like the score was still 0-0. The G-House spirit was noted by head coach Michael Jordan.
-We'll be OK," said coach Jordan. -We're a young team, and a potentially good team. We have lots of work to do, and we need to readjust some things, but that's what coaches are for. It's not where you start, it's where you finish."
In a garbage heap of disappointment, there were yet a several bright shining moments for the Griffins:
- Player of the Week Brett nominee Haase (6-2, 175) did a great job punting, averaging 39.8 yards, and he tacked on an extra point in the second half. Jon Williams averaged 60 yards per kickoff. All but one of Pat Oberg's (6-3, 210) many long snaps were on target, and Haase calmly collected the high flyer to make a great punt under pressure.
- Special team coverages and returns were excellent. Griffin kick returns averaged nearly 19 yards, versus 10 yards for El Camino. Haase's booming punts were simply not returnable. Coupled with the deeper penetration on kickoffs, this translated to an average of 20 yards of starting field position advantage for Grossmont on the transitions.
Despite El Camino's overwhelming defensive experience, skill and depth, the never-say-die Grossmont offense penetrated the Warriors' side of the field twice in the first quarter alone. First, from his own 36, quarterback Blake Sutton (6-5, 215) hit freshman Chris Smith (6-2, 190) with a 33 yard completion to the El Camino 31.
On a subsequent series near the end of the quarter, Sutton struck again, this time from his own 31 to hook up with freshman Kyle Hipp (6-2, 225) on a 22 yard completion to the EC 47. There was no pay dirt on either drive, however, as Jon Williams (5-10, 185) missed a 46 yard field goal attempt on the first penetration and the second drive fizzled on fourth down from the El Camino 30 yard line.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Griffs got a momentary taste of glory when a fumble by El Camino quarterback Boo Jackson was recovered by freshman linebacker Brian Walls (6-3, 220) at the EC 43. Sutton directed a quick advance into the end zone, capping the drive with a 15 yard pass to freshman Eilijah Brown (5-10, 165) for the touchdown.
At least twenty eight freshmen got their first college game experience, and several made big plays in the second half. Defensive back Luis Villavicencio (6-0, 175) intercepted an El Camino pass, and linebacker Kayman Sutton (6-0, 205) forced a fumble which was recovered by linebacker Brian Ray (6-0, 200) and returned 8 yards for a touchdown. Greg Palmer (5-10, 180) and Kayman Sutton led the Griffs in tackles and assists, with 9 each.
Grossmont next faces San Diego county rival Palomar. The Comets always field a potent offense, and bested San Bernardino Valley 34-14 in their own season opener. The last time these two county titans clashed was 2002, when Palomar scored on a 50 yard pass in the final play of the game to come from behind for a 21-20 victory. This should be one heck of an exciting contest.
Kick off against Palomar is at 3 p.m. next Saturday, September 8th at Grossmont.
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By Jim Lowder
Special to JCFootball.com
El Cajon, CA (25 August, 2007) Compton came ready to show their stuff to the #6 ranked Grossmont Griffins on Saturday. The Tartars occasionally shut down the Grossmont passing game, and showed flashes of offensive striking power against the #6 ranked Griffins, intermittently moving the ball on the ground and in the air.
-They have a good team with really good athletes," Grossmont head coach Mike Jordan noted after the scrimmage.
The two teams began the afternoon about even, but in the end the Griffins' depth, skill and strength took a toll on both sides of the ball. Although showing flashes of brilliance, as in linebacker Kayman Sutton dropping a Tartar running back eight yards behind the line of scrimmage, the maturing Griffin defense was not able to dominate the way it once might have done. The Grossmont big men looked good, though, and provided beaucoup opportunities for the linebackers to look good as well. I suspect the entire defense will look a whole lot better when the big men are turned loose in a real game.
On special teams, San Diego State bounce back Pat Oberg's long snaps were true and consistent. At the receiving end of some of those snaps, Brett Hasse boomed a couple of 40 yard punts while stepping in for Martin House. Both Hasse and Alcorn bounce back Jonathan Williams nailed all their PATs, despite distracting procedure penalties which set the line of scrimmage back five yards on two occasions. Williams placed a couple of kickoffs inside the ten yard line, one of them with sufficient hang time to allow the coverage to shut down the Tartar kick return inside the 30, but Grossmont coverage was not consistent on punts or kick offs.
On the other side of the ball, the Compton special teams needed life support, missing one of two PAT attempts and allowing all three kick offs to be returned to mid field. The Tartars sorely missed all-Conference kicker Andrew Aguila, off to Central Michigan for 2007. Last year, Aguila averaged 58 yards on kick offs and led all California junior college kickers with 15 field goals. It looks like, this year, Compton will have to find another way to score. They have the weapons, but will they be able to execute?
On offense, the Grossmont aerial attack faltered at first, but Arizona bounce back Garen Demery ignited the Griffins early in the first quarter by ripping a 60 yard touchdown run. A couple of the very capable and otherwise fleet-footed Compton defensive backs had an angle on Demery but he flat outran them to the goal line.
The G-House wide receivers soon picked up the pace and began catching quarterback Blake Sutton's passes, which opened up the Griffin running game even further. The Griffs exhibited a variety of successful attacks on the ground and in the air, as Sutton deftly distributed the ball to a number of backs and receivers, demonstrated his ability to accurately deliver the deep ball, and cemented his starting position at quarterback.
-We have a lot of firepower," said coach Jordan of his offensive unit, adding that -we'll definitely put a lot more points on the board this year."
The improved Grossmont offense has arrived just in time to provide a little relief to the defense, which will get extra duty this year (as will all defenses) due to the new 30-yard kick off rule. It will be very interesting to see how this rule plays out in junior college competition. My guess is that it will help the Griffins significantly in 2007, but will turn into a disaster for teams without sufficient kicking power or defensive depth. Woe to the head coach who ignores special teams.
Asked about this week's opening contest against #1 ranked El Camino, coach Jordan stated simply, -I think they are beatable."
I can't wait to see for myself.
Grossmont travels to El Camino Saturday the 1st of September for a 6 p.m. kick off.
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California Foothill Conference Preview: Grossmont
 By Jim Lowder
JCFootball.com Correspondent
El Cajon, Ca. - The Grossmont College football team has played in 17 post-season games in the past ten years, more than any other in California. Last year, first year
head coach Mike Jordan and his new staff got a good start on keeping up the tradition by winning the Foothill Conference and going two games deep into the
California playoffs.
Can the Griffins repeat their 2006 performance this year, after losing six all conference
players from last year's squad, including the loss of five starters from the #1 scoring defense in the country? Without a doubt, Coach Jordan says yes.
Arch rival Chaffey College and last year's #2 scoring defense, Victor Valley, might have
something to say about conference bragging rights. Last year, Victor Valley held
Grossmont to only 213 total yards of offense during regular season play, losing at home
7-16 against the Griffins, but going on the lose again to Grossmont 7-49 in post season
play in the Southern California Bowl. -Chaffey always gives us a good game," says
Jordan, who also admits that -we have lots of work to do." Both teams will be gunning
for the men of G-House, ranked 6th in J.C. Grid-Wire pre-season predictions.
If the Griffins prevail over conference competitors as predicted by coach Jordan, will the
Foothill championship be a stepping stone for the Southern Cal and California State
championships later in the season? Besides the aforementioned conference challenges,
there are those pesky little pre-conference matchups with cross-town offensive
powerhouse Palomar, J.C Grid-Wire's #16 pick, and last year's California champs El
Camino, the projected #1 Junior College Football team for 2007.
Will this year's Griffins be able to handle such a schedule? -I like our chances going into
every game," says coach Jordan. You could detect prudence in the coach's comments, but no lack of confidence in his players or coaches.
The casual observer might think that losses from last year's stellar defense would
handicap the 2007-model defense, but that didn't seem to bother the 2006 Griffin defense when they lost five all-conference defenders from the 2005 National Championship team and then proceeded to choke the opposition to an average of only 5.6 points per game in the regular season. Last year, Grossmont was the stingiest scoring defense in the nation.
Jordan is not worried.
Great teams don't rebuild, they just reload, and that is exactly what coach Jordan claims
to have accomplished so far for 2007. -This is probably the best freshman class I have
ever seen," enthuses coach Jordan, adding that -we have lots of returning sophomores in key leadership positions on both sides of the ball." ...not to mention a host of key
transfers.
Jordan and his now-experienced coaching staff do indeed appear to have plenty of
material to work with. Earlier in the summer, the defensive backfield was considered a
potential vulnerability. As the season draws closer, the questions seem to have been
answered by unexpected retentions and recruiting. DB Abraham Muheize (5-11, 205)
provided a big boost by his decision to pass on a transfer to Montana State and return
home to Grossmont for 2007.
Muheize will be joined in the defensive backfield by Adam Herrod (5-11, 190) and San
Diego South all-Star DB, Luis Villavicenzio (5-11, 180). Herrod was impressive at the
Scout.com combine as a wide receiver - who better to anticipate the moves of his former compadres on the other side of the ball? Villavicencio is a true -shutdown corner," according to Mike Hastings, Luis' high school and all-Star coach. -He moves well in space and has incredible body control off his feet," says Hastings. It helps to have 4.3
speed in the 40.
Fresh meat comes to the linebacker corps all the way from Fulton County, Georgia,
where Kayman Sutton (6-1, 200) led his Creekside High playoff team in tackles and
earned 4A all-State recognition two years in a row. Sutton is joined by Placera's Brian
Ray (6-1, 210).
The new linebackers will play behind one of the most experienced and successful junior
college defensive lines in college football, led by returning all-Foothill Conference DL
Matt Moss (6-4, 270), already committed to Texas A&M for 2008. He is joined by DL
Valentino Tofaeono (6-2, 360) who wowed the scouts at the Citrus combine with his
quickness - at 360 pounds?.? DL Ryan Glazer (6-3, 290) returns to add to last year's 60
tackles and 6 sacks. Glazer is committed to the University of Kansas for next season. DE
Magnum Mauga (6-0, 265) returns to the lineup after taking a medical redshirt in 2006
for a torn ACL. Mauga looks forward to terrorizing El Camino on opening day, the way
he did two years ago in Grossmont's semi-final victory over the Warriors on their way to
the 2005 championship.
Grossmont has traditionally fielded excellent special teams, and this year will be no
exception, especially with the new rule for kickoffs to start from the 30 yard line. Special
teams coordinator Dave Jordan is blessed with a bevy of first rate kickers, punters,
snappers and athletes to work with, and work with them he does. Asked why the Griffins lavish attention on special teams in practice, head coach Mike Jordan responds that -kicking is a third of the game," then goes on to praise his dad Dave, saying -everything he does is done very well."
Special teams talent includes the gifted veteran Brett Hasse, who excels at all three
specialist kicking positions and would be an automatic starter as place kicker, if not for a
challenge from Alcorn State bounce back Jonathan Williams (5-10, 185), who earned
post season all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors last year as a place kicker for
the Braves. The two are in a neck-and-neck race to replace last year's all-Foothill
Conference place kicker Jared Ballman. Williams apparently has the lead as far as kick
off duties are concerned. His deep kick offs will be well covered by the fast and
experienced Grossmont coverage team, and the same level of athletic talent and
experience will serve the return teams as well. Martin House leads in the competition to
punt for the Griffins, and San Diego State Bounce back Pat Oberg (6-3, 210) comes in to
compete for the long snapper position.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Griffins' O-line may be the most impressive of all.
-Both lines are D-I," says Jordan, matter-of-factly. Returning veteran and future
Louisville Cardinal C.J. Millenbah (6-4,360) is joined in the trenches by returning center
Dan Rios (6-0, 290), University of Alabama-Birmingham bounce back Keavis Watkins
(6-6, 350), yet another alumnus of Creekside high, and a bounce back from Oregon,
Landis Provancha (6-5, 275). Provancha was a multiple sport athlete (wrestling, track) at Sprague HS in Salem, Oregon, where he led his team to the state championship in 2004 and made the football all-State roster as a senior in 2005. Veteran TE Kyle Marsom (6-3, 240) return from 2006, when he snagged 5 receptions for 61 yards.
A pair of electric speedsters lead the 2007 Griffin offensive backfield. Arizona bounce
back and 2005 all-CIF running back Garen Demery (5-8, 175) is a scoring threat on any
given down. Together with Serra's highly touted Chris Daniels (5-9, 180), the duo rushed for more than a combined 4,300 yards during their final high school campaigns. They are joined by Kayman Sutton's twin brother, running back Kimbi (6-1, 200).
At wide receiver, El Camino College donates greyshirt WR Ken Fields to the Grossmont
transfer roster. Helix High's own Chris Smith (6-3, 200), and El Cajon Valley returner
Jeremy Young (5-10, 195) provide the Griffs with plenty of additional offensive targets.
Young made 9 catches for 107 yards and a TD in 2006.
Despite the return of successful quarterback John Soli (6-1, 190), there is healthy
competition at quarterback for 2007. Sophomore Soli led last year's all-conference team,
but is being pressed hard by veterans Dan Lewis (6-2, 200) of Tigard, Oregon, and 2005
returnee Blake Sutton (6-4, 205), who laid off in 2006. Sutton was 24 of 43 for 520 yards passing and 7 TDs with only 2 interceptions as Reilly Murphy's backup on the 2005
Griffin National Championship team. Newcomers Matt Jarvis, Andrew Ruiz and Brandon
Fricke are in the mix and raising the stakes even higher.
Whoever wins the starting quarterback position at will have plenty of protection up front
and lots of offensive weapons in the air and on the ground. This year's Grossmont
offense looks to offer the traditional balanced Griffins attack and may be better than last
year's squad.
Grossmont's offense may have to carry more of the load this year, as the defense faces
early season offensive threats, first against the potent and equally balanced El Camino,
and then against the perennially powerful Palomar offense, which may struggle, with the loss of All-American QB Tyler Lorenzen to University of Connecticut. The Comets won
the last intra-county contest in 2002 by a single point, and they always seems to come up with offensive talent and productivity.
El Camino may be the only junior college in the nation with big men equal to
Grossmont's own on either side of the ball. The results of the September 1st showdown
between these powerhouse teams loaded with talent will not make or break either team's season, but it might give us a preview of the Southern California Championship.
No matter who wins, the contest between the 2005 #1 and the 2006 #1 is sure to be
entertaining.
HEAD COACH and OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Michael Jordan, 2nd year as
head coach, 16th season coaching college football, including 8 yrs asst HC
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Dave Jordan, Asst HC and Special Teams Coordinator, 36th yr
Steve Johns, DC, 2nd yr at Grossmont, 16th yr coaching college football
Mark Deesing, DB, 18th yr
Anuyell Goodwin, WR, 8th yr
Garrett Robinson, LB, 4th yr
Ken Wilmesherr, OL, 2nd yr
Tim McMahon, DB asst, 2nd yr
Josh Barney, TE, 3rd yr
Matt Stern, DL, 2nd yr
Jamal Gardner, RB, 1st yr
2006 SEASON RECORD: 10-2
2006 Foothill Conference RECORD: 8-0
POSITION IN STANDINGS: 9th in 2006, Predicted 6th in 2007
2006 BOWL APPEARANCES:
Southern California Bowl: W 49-7 over Victor Valley
Southern California Semi-finals: L 13-6 to Bakersfield
KEY SOPHOMORES:
RB Chris Daniels, DL Ryan Glazer, K Brett Hasse, P Martin House, TE Kyle Marsom,
DE Magnum Mauga, OL CJ Millenbah, DL Matt Moss, DB Abraham Muheize, DL
Valentino Tofaeono, OL Dan Rios, QB John Soli, QB Blake Sutton , WR Jeremy Young
KEY FRESHMAN RECRUITS:
DL Nick Armstrong, RB Richard Caldwell, RB Chris Daniels, LB Cody Furr, DB Adam
Herrod, K Tim Maghiny, LB Brian Ray, LB Kayman Sutton, RB Kimbi , Sutton, DB
Luis Villavicencio
KEY TRANSFERS:
RB Garen Demery, WR Ken Fields, TE Pat Oberg , OL Landis Provancha, DL Keavis
Watkins, K Jon Williams
2007 GRIFFINS SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
Sept 1 - at #1 El Camino, 6 p.m.
Sept 8 - #16 Palomar, 3 p.m.
Sept 15 - Southwestern*, 3 p.m.
Sept 22 - at San Bernardino*, 7 p.m.
Sept 29 - at Chaffey*, 5 p.m.
Oct 6 - Desert*, 1 p.m.
Oct 13 - Victor Valley*, 1 p.m.
Oct 20 - at Antelope Valley*, 1 p.m.
Nov 3 - at S.D. Mesa*, 1 p.m.
Nov 10 - San Jacinto*, 1 p.m.
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 2007 Season opens at National #1 El Camino
- East County Sports.com
SANTA ANA (8-12-07) -- Following four straight seasons ranked among the nation's elite, it came as no surprise when Grossmont College was rated 6th in the nation when J.C. Grid-Wire recently announced its 2007 preseason football rankings.
Grossmont, 9-2 in 2006 after claiming the Grid-Wire's mythical national championship after capturing its second state title in 2005, will be quickly tested in order to maintain its lofty perch. The Griffins will take to the road in their Sat., Sept. 1 season opener, meeting defending state titlist El Camino. The Warriors were tabbed No. 1 heading into the season by Grid-Wire editor Hank Ives.
Following El Camino at the top ratings include: City College of San Francisco, Butler (Kan.), Pearl River (Miss.), and Bakersfield, which eliminated Grossmont in the Southern California semifinals last season.
The second five features Grossmont at No. 6, followed by Santa Rosa, defending national champion Blinn (Texas), Fresno and Saddleback. Grossmont's Week 2 opponent, Palomar, is ranked No.16, but surprisingly none of the Griffins' Foothill Conference rivals made the list.
The Griffins and Comets will meet at Grossmont's Mashin-Roth Memorial Field on Sat., Sept. 8. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
The remainder of the preseason Top 30 is: No. 11 Snow (Utah), No. 12 Mt. San Anrtonio, No. 13 Georgia Military, No. 14 College of the Sequoias, No. 15 Coffeyville (Kan.), No. 16 Palomar, No. 17 Moorpark, No. 18 Cisco (Texas), No.19 Jones County (Miss.), No. 20 College of San Mateo.
Also, No. 21 Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.), No. 22 Foothill, No. 23 Sierra, No. 24 Mississippi Gulf Coast, No. 25 Garden City (Kan.), No. 26 Joliet (Ill.), No. 27 Riverside, No. 28 Arizona Western, No. 29 Pasadena and No. 30 Lackawanna (Penn.).
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