Santa Monica College won the Pacific Conference Championship in football for the second straight year defeating Antelope Valley 24-21 away at Antelope Valley to qualify to play in the American Division Championship Bowl.
The Corsairs boast a 9-1 regular season record going undefeated 7-0 in the Pacific Conference in a season that will go down as one of the best in school history.
Santa Monica Head Coach Gifford Lindheim believes in a philosophy in which the Corsairs have “a goal to reach their potential individually and collectively” each and every year.
“Winning is a residual outcome of that philosophy,” said Lindheim. “The past two seasons have resulted in championships. I’m happy for the guys to be able to enjoy such positive outcomes from their talent, hard work, and dedication.”
Santa Monica College quarterback Alfonso Medina was 14-28 for 288 yards throwing three touchdowns and one interception against the Marauders.
Medina leads the Pacific Conference with 238.2 yards per game and 28 passing touchdowns netting 2382 total yards for the season.
“We have had a lot of confidence in ourselves and every week we have relied on different parts on the team to make it a complete team effort,” said Medina.
Santa Monica College receiver Reggie Mitchell had five catches for 131 yards and one touchdown while Ralph Gordon II had five catches for 123 yards to lead the receiving core of the Corsairs over the Marauders.
Gordon has ten touchdowns during the 2012 season on 34 receptions for 756 yards while Mitchell has nine touchdowns on 36 receptions for 648 yards, and tight end Dominique Bierria has five touchdowns of 45 receptions for 523 yards.
“It’s been an amazing year and all of us have come a long way since spring ball,” said Gordon. “I feel the chemistry we have together and as a team, we’ve been able to utilize to dominate other teams every Saturday.
Corsairs rusher Myles Johnson added 83 yards on the ground on 27 carries against the Marauders.
Johnson leads rushers in the Pacific Conference with nine touchdowns and an average of 101.7 yards a game with 1017 total yards for the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Qujuan Floyd leads the Corsairs in total tackles with 75 with linebacker Benjamin Brown piling up 63 total tackles and defensive back Ricardo White posting 49.
“I’m very proud of the entire SMC family from the athletic department to the coaching staff and my teammates on both sides of the ball,” said Johnson. “It’s been a honor to go to war each game with this team.”
Next game for the Corsairs is away against Southwestern College Saturday, Nov. 17 in the American Division Championship Bowl at Olympian High School in Chula Vista at 6 p.m.
