Comets bested by Tigers in conference opener

ESCONDIDO, CA (10/15/2022) -- No. 12 Palomar College dropped their conference opener 38-3 to No. 1 Riverside City College on a rainy Saturday night. 

The Comets struggled to get anything going offensively as the Riverside Tigers were on the Comets like lasers. It wasn't until the third quarter that it looked like Palomar was going to get points on the board. 

Riverside was charging down the field and had a first down on the Palomar 26-yard line. Enter Devin Dye. Dye intercepted Riverside's Jake Retzlaff's pass and returned it 37 yards to extend the Comet's takeaway streak to seven games. 

On their own 40-yard line, the Comets were able to get their run game going a little. The Comets were now across midfield to the Riverside 48-yard line on four straight rushes. Following a Riverside penalty that gave the Comets a first down, quarterback Kiah Reid connected with Ka'alei Apana for 27 yards and again for another two. Inside the 10-yard line, the hopes were high for the Comets, but the Tigers had other plans as they got the goal line stop and the Comets turned it over on downs. 

The Comet defense got the Tigers to go three and out and the Comets got the ball back on the Riverside 32-yard line following an Isaiah Davis punt return. Still unable to advance the ball far down the field, the Comets settled for a Landon Ogles 39-yard field goal to avoid the shutout. 

Palomar moves to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. They will head to Chaffey College on Saturday, Oct. 22 for a 6 p.m. kickoff.