Cougars Handle Pasadena In Conference Opener

PASADENA, Calif. – Freshman quarterback Jake Dashnaw threw for a career-high 262 yards and three touchdowns to lead College of the Canyons to a convincing 54-10 victory over Pasadena City College at Robinson Stadium on Saturday evening. By earning a victory in its first National Division, Northern Conference contest, COC improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Canyons posted a 509-to-224 yard advantage in total offense with eight different players scoring for the Cougars. The defense performed equally as well, allowing only 107 yards in the air with six sacks and an interception return for a touchdown.

After Pasadena opened the game with a 38-yard field goal, Canyons stormed back by responding with a 59-yard, seven play scoring drive to take the lead back on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Dashnaw to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Feyh.

The Cougars then scored on their following possession – this time a 12-yard Dashnaw carry into the end zone – allowing COC to go up 13-3 with 2:33 left in the first quarter.

COC's first quarter scoring wasn't quite finished as Cory Harris notched his first interception of the year and returned it 53 yards for the score, giving COC a 20-3 advantage at the end of one quarter.

Both teams were scoreless in the second quarter, but it was College of the Canyons that came out hot in the third quarter, outscoring the Lancers 13-7. The Cougars came out of the half time break and drove the ball 70 yards, eventually capitalizing on by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Dashnaw to wide receiver Travion Tucker.

COC's defense allowed its only touchdown of the day — a 28-yard passing touchdown — in the early moments of the third quarter, cutting the Cougar's lead to 26-10.

But Canyons would have one more scoring opportunity in the quarter, as the Lancers fumbled a COC punt, allowing freshman cornerback Armon Easley to recover on the Pasadena 32-yard line. Five plays later, Dashnaw found a streaking Washington for an 11-yard touchdown pass, allowing the Cougars to go up 33-10.

COC exploded for 21 more points in the fourth quarter, which included a Tony Dawson nine-yard carry, a Gabe Peralta one-yard scamper and a one-yard plunge into the end zone by Stephen Rice.

Dashnaw had an impressive night of passing for COC, completing 15-of-20 attempts for 262 yards and three scores, without throwing any interceptions. Washington led all receivers with seven catches for 84 yards and a score, while Dawson was the team's leading rusher with 11 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman linebacker Ryan McAleenan led the Cougar defense with 12 tackles and a pass break up. Freshman linebacker Robert Cuba had nine tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and two sacks. Harris recorded his first interception of the year and the team's first pick returned for a score.

College of the Canyons will next host rival Bakersfield College at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Cougar Stadium in its second conference matchup of the season.