Comets bounce back with win over Griffins

ESCONDIDO, CA (9/30/2023) -- The Palomar College Comets needed to bounce back in a big way and they did just that with a 43-16 win over long-time rival Grossmont College. 

Palomar jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead when sophomore Omarion Ireland ran it in for a 5-yard touchdown. Grossmont's opening drive ended with a 17-yard interception by sophomore Jadon Bowen, his first of the year. The Comets started their second drive of the game on their own 37-yard line and ran seven plays before Kiah Reid found Jake Whitehead for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give the Comets a 14-0 lead. The Comet defense picked up its second interception of the quarter two drives later when Chase Beardsley intercepted the ball at the Palomar 7-yard line. After a quick three and out for the Comets, the Griffins drove down the field and kicked a 31-yard field goal to get on the board. Palomar, in turn, responded with an 8-yard run by De'Marcus Carr to go up another seven points. Not slowing down, the Comets tacked on another seven, this time a 29-yard pass from Reid to freshman Amari Derby to give the Comets a 28-3 lead at halftime.

Grossmont, who won the coin toss and deferred, scored on their second-half opening drive to cut the lead to 18. Palomar responded with another touchdown, a 6-yard rush by Ireland. The Griffins were called for roughing the holder on the PAT, so the Comets decided to go for two and converted to take a 36-10 lead with five minutes to go in the third quarter. Palomar's final touchdown came on their next possession. Kiah Reid found his younger brother Tate Reid for a 78-yard touchdown to give Palomar a 43-10 lead. Grossmont went 64 yards on their final drive to score a last-second touchdown but were denied the chance for a PAT by the officiating crew, making the final score 43-16.

The Comet offense totaled 488 yards, 349 in the air and 139 on the ground. Kiah Reid was 20-30 with three touchdowns and rushed for 12 yards on six carries. Ireland finished with 78 yards on 12 carries, while Gavin Galzote finished with 32 yards on seven carries. Tate Reid led the receivers with three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Armstrong finished with one reception for 62 yards. Micah Johnson, Whitehead and Derby each had two receptions for 44, 41 and 32 yards, respectively. 

Palomar's defense held the Griffins to 308 total yards, 226 passing and just 82 rushing. Davion Green led the team with five tackles. Bowen, Evan Surray and Barrett Brennan all had four, while Monty Hunt, Caleb Scott, Joe Matthews, Chase Beardsley and Jacob Sisson all had three. Sisson recorded two quarterback hurries and Brennan, Yassin Khachab and Christian Gonzales-Ponce had one. The Comets had two tackles-for-loss. Kavyion Hicks had 1.5 for four yards and Eddie Villa had 0.5 for one yard. 

The Comets will have a week off before returning to conference play on October 14. They will travel to Saddleback College for a 6 p.m. kickoff.