Palomar's comeback falls four points short
NORWALK (9-17-2016) -- Palomar, trailing by two touchdowns at the half, saw a fourth-quarter comeback fall just short on Saturday night at Falcon Stadium as the Comets dropped a non-conference football game to Cerritos 21-17.
Most of Palomar's success in the opening half came with the Falcons leading 7-0 when Wes Fonoti blocked a Cerritos field goal attempt with 5:39 left in the first quarter and Dominique Love scooped up the ball and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown. Patrick Koch kicked the PAT and the teams were tied 7-7.
Cerritos led 21-7 at halftime after a pair of Nick Michell touchdown runs in the second period when the game's momentum changed and the Comets scored twice in the fourth quarter, on Josh Bernard's 12-yard touchdown run and Koch's 45-yard field goal, which came with 3:32 left in the game.
The Comets outscored the Falcons 10-0 over the game's final 30 minutes and 53 seconds and attempted to get the ball back with an onside kick following the field goal for a final attempt to win it. But Cerritos quickly called timeout, negating any surpise, and this time Koch kicked off deep to the 5-yard line, from where Landon Jones returned it 22 yards out to the 27.
Palomar never got the ball back as the Falcons controlled the ball for the game's last 3:27, during which time the Comets used their last two timeouts.
"We did some good things to try to come back, but we have to play four quarters and, until we can do that, we're not gong to be the kind of team we want to be," coach Joe Early said.
Palomar's top offensive effort came from tight end Robert Ursua, who ran over Cerritos defenders twice as he caught four passes from Matt Romero for 43 yards.
Along with the blocked field goal and touchdown return, the Comets got strong defensive efforts from Malavai Taylor who intercepted a pass in the end zone and contributed 6 tackles, Zack Gallina (12 tackles), Christian Prince (9 tackles, 1.5 for a loss) and Brad Dozier, Hunter Turner and Nako Te'i who had 6 tackles each.
Punter Sam Tapia pinned the Falcons inside the 20-yard line three times, at the 6, 19 and 14-yard line. He also had kicks of 47 and 43 yards.
Palomar will try to even its record at 2-2 next Saturday when the Comets host Moorpark in another non-conference game at Escondido's Chick Embrey Field at Wilson Stadium, Kickoff will be at 6 p.m.
NORWALK (9-17-2016) -- Palomar, trailing by two touchdowns at the half, saw a fourth-quarter comeback fall just short on Saturday night at Falcon Stadium as the Comets dropped a non-conference football game to Cerritos 21-17.
Most of Palomar's success in the opening half came with the Falcons leading 7-0 when Wes Fonoti blocked a Cerritos field goal attempt with 5:39 left in the first quarter and Dominique Love scooped up the ball and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown. Patrick Koch kicked the PAT and the teams were tied 7-7.
Cerritos led 21-7 at halftime after a pair of Nick Michell touchdown runs in the second period when the game's momentum changed and the Comets scored twice in the fourth quarter, on Josh Bernard's 12-yard touchdown run and Koch's 45-yard field goal, which came with 3:32 left in the game.
The Comets outscored the Falcons 10-0 over the game's final 30 minutes and 53 seconds and attempted to get the ball back with an onside kick following the field goal for a final attempt to win it. But Cerritos quickly called timeout, negating any surpise, and this time Koch kicked off deep to the 5-yard line, from where Landon Jones returned it 22 yards out to the 27.
Palomar never got the ball back as the Falcons controlled the ball for the game's last 3:27, during which time the Comets used their last two timeouts.
"We did some good things to try to come back, but we have to play four quarters and, until we can do that, we're not gong to be the kind of team we want to be," coach Joe Early said.
Palomar's top offensive effort came from tight end Robert Ursua, who ran over Cerritos defenders twice as he caught four passes from Matt Romero for 43 yards.
Along with the blocked field goal and touchdown return, the Comets got strong defensive efforts from Malavai Taylor who intercepted a pass in the end zone and contributed 6 tackles, Zack Gallina (12 tackles), Christian Prince (9 tackles, 1.5 for a loss) and Brad Dozier, Hunter Turner and Nako Te'i who had 6 tackles each.
Punter Sam Tapia pinned the Falcons inside the 20-yard line three times, at the 6, 19 and 14-yard line. He also had kicks of 47 and 43 yards.
Palomar will try to even its record at 2-2 next Saturday when the Comets host Moorpark in another non-conference game at Escondido's Chick Embrey Field at Wilson Stadium, Kickoff will be at 6 p.m.
