Griffs try to rustle up win against GWC
- Updated: November 4, 2016
BRAD CAGLE (4) and Grossmont face Golden West on Saturday night. / photo by Michael Brunker
2016 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL
By Bill Dickens
© EastCountySports.com
COSTA MESA (11-04-16) — Just to prove what a topsy-turvy season this has been in the National Southern Football Conference, the Griffins were smothered by Fullerton 79-18 Oct. 15 but bounced back and narrowly missed an upset of Saddleback in a 57-55 loss last week.
The irony here is Saddleback beat Fullerton 30-27 the week previous to the Griffins grinding loss to the Gauchos.
Griffins fans can watch Saturday’s 7 p.m. game (Nov. 5) against Golden West at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium on the internet on SportsNetUSA.net with audio and video streaming live.
Grossmont’s high-powered offense, which averages 34 points per game, is led by wide receiver ADRIAN TOLBERT who has 34 catches for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Quarterback BRAD CAGLE, despite earlier injuries, has passed for 1703 yards for 14 touchdowns.
The Griffins’ running game tandem is paced by NEHEMIAH BROWN (104 for 445, 6 TDs) and KEITH FULTON (77 for 360, 5 TDs).
The Southern Conference leading Rustlers (4-4 overall, 3-0 SCFA) rely on the passing of quarterback Adam Vance, who has completed 105 of 161 aerials for 1151 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Running back Gabriel Ford has crashed his way for 439 yards and 2 touchdowns on 109 carries.
It will be another test for the Grossmont defense which has been so-so in that department.
The secondary leader is JORDAN ELLIS, who has picked off 6 passes for the Griffs.
Up front the Griffins (4-4, 0-3 SCFA Southern Division) will look to 6-foot-1, 280-pound freshman defensive lineman TAETAFE TUIA of Oakley (5 tackles in the game versus Saddleback), sophomore defensive back NARQESSE SMITH out of Cathedral Catholic (5 tackles), freshman linebacker RODERICK WOODS (4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and sophomore linebacker RYDEN KERR out of West Hills (5 tackles).
GRIFFIN GRAFFITI: Griffins quarterback BRAD CAGLE was named SCFA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the game against Saddleback . . . the 6-foot, 190 freshman completed 28 of 55 passes for 550 yards and 5 touchdowns in Grossmont’s 57-55 loss to Saddleback . . . the Griffins are 1-7 in the series against Golden West with the Rustlers winning the last three meetings against the Griffins (17-7 in 2015, 41-6 in 2014, and 43-34 in 2013) . . . Grossmont’s only win over Golden West came in 2012 when the Griffs claimed a 26-21 victory . . . Golden West dedicated a new on campus football stadium with a 35-23 victory over Palomar on Oct. 22nd . . . No game has been played there since . . . The Rustlers will play all their home games in the friendly confines of their home stadium next season.
