Palomar Struggles Against Riverside, Falls 52-14 Despite Defensive Efforts

RIVERSIDE, CA (9/28/2024) -- Palomar College faced a tough challenge on Saturday, falling 52-14 to Riverside City College in a game where the Comet defense was overwhelmed by Riverside's high-powered offense. The loss drops Palomar to 1-3 on the season, as they prepare for an important road matchup next week against Grossmont College.

Riverside started strong, marching 69 yards on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead with a 4-yard touchdown run by Brady Jones. Palomar responded in the second quarter, capitalizing on a short field after a Riverside turnover. Andrew Tapley connected with running back Chris Bausch for a 13-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7. Later, after a fumble recovery, Palomar struck again as Jaiden Letua powered in a 2-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the Comets level at 14-14.

However, from that point on, Riverside took control, scoring 35 unanswered points and dominating the second half. Brady Jones led the way for the Tigers, throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 99 yards and another score. Riverside's offensive pace proved too much for the Palomar defense, which gave up 727 total yards.

Despite the final score, the Palomar defense had several standout performances. Safety Davion Green had two key interceptions, while linebacker James Coddington added a third, but the Comets couldn't turn those turnovers into offensive momentum. Green also tallied five tackles, helping limit some of Riverside's big plays.

Linebacker Steven Arteaga had a standout game, leading the team with 15 total tackles, including 10 solo stops. Defensive lineman Andy Devine recorded 8 tackles, while Tucker Murphy added 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. The defense managed to keep Riverside out of the end zone for parts of the second quarter but struggled to contain the explosive plays that came in bunches during the second half.

Palomar's defense showed moments of resilience, with key contributions from Jacob Sisson and Deangelo Pollard, who combined for a sack, and Kavyion Hicks, who added pressure throughout the game. Despite these efforts, the Comet defense was on the field for long stretches, and the Riverside offense eventually wore them down with consistent drives.

The Comets will look to regroup and sharpen their defense as they head into next week's road game against Grossmont College, aiming to turn things around and snap their two-game losing streak.