Comets put on defensive masterclass

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Class leads 6-sack defensive performance as No. 16 Palomar scores 26 first-half points, improves to 2-0

PALOMAR 26, EAST LOS ANGELES 7

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

SAN MARCOS — Palomar answered the question left behind by its season-opening upset at Ventura.

The Comets may be building something sustainable under first-year head coach Thom Kaumeyer.

Jonathan Class recorded two sacks, forced a fumble and totaled 5½ tackles for loss as No. 16 Palomar overwhelmed East Los Angeles, 26-7, Saturday night in its home opener.

Palomar scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, added a field goal, returned a fumble for another touchdown and forced a safety while constructing a 26-7 halftime lead.

Neither team scored during the second half, but the Comets’ defense never allowed East Los Angeles to seriously threaten the advantage.

Palomar improved to 2-0 in the Kaumeyer era after opening the season with a 19-6 road victory over then-No. 6 Ventura.

The Comets have allowed only 13 points through two games.

TWO DRIVES, TWO TOUCHDOWNS

Palomar established control immediately with two methodical touchdown possessions covering a combined 147 yards.

Quarterback Noah Schuback directed a 10-play, 78-yard march after the Comets received the opening kickoff.

Schuback completed passes across the middle, scrambled for a first down and connected with Kingston Siliado out of the backfield to move Palomar to the East Los Angeles 1.

Schuback completed the drive with a 1-yard quarterback run, and Carson Beard converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 10:36 remaining in the opening quarter.

Palomar’s second possession covered 69 yards in seven plays.

Maurice Howard completed the drive by breaking through the right side, running through a tackle and scoring from 17 yards. Beard’s conversion extended the lead to 14-0.

Howard gained 55 yards on only six carries, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt.

Schuback added 51 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, while Bowyn Cannon gained 39 yards and Brady Powell contributed 31.

Palomar finished with 173 rushing yards and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt.

DEFENSE TAKES OVER

East Los Angeles briefly reduced the deficit when Tegan Melendez connected with Jaden Thomas for a 12-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

The Huskies’ only scoring possession covered 70 yards and pulled East L.A. within 14-7.

Palomar answered with an eight-play, 42-yard drive that ended with Beard’s 40-yard field goal, restoring a 17-7 advantage.

The Comets’ defense then took control of the game.

Class burst into the backfield and stripped Melendez for a 14-yard sack. The loose ball rolled toward the East Los Angeles goal line, where Tanner Doyle recovered it and returned it 9 yards for a touchdown.

A penalty flag initially created uncertainty, but the officials picked it up and allowed the touchdown to stand.

Class and Doyle were two of Palomar’s leading defenders during the opening victory at Ventura. Their first-half combination gave the Comets a 24-7 lead and effectively broke the game open.

East Los Angeles received the ensuing kickoff but immediately encountered more pressure.

Andrew Livingston recorded a sack on the first play of the possession. Two plays later, Melendez was pressured into intentional grounding from the end zone, resulting in a safety and Palomar’s final two points.

The defensive touchdown and safety arrived only 1 minute, 49 seconds apart.

Palomar led 26-7 with 6:02 remaining before halftime.

CLASS DISMISSES EAST L.A.

Class finished with one of the state’s most disruptive defensive performances of the weekend.

The sophomore totaled nine tackles, two sacks for 25 yards, 5½ tackles for loss covering 33 yards, a forced fumble and five quarterback hurries.

He contributed to a Palomar defense that produced six sacks for 68 yards and 14 tackles for loss totaling 90 yards.

Hezekiah Wells added a sack and two tackles for loss. Barack Muhindo and Livingston also recorded sacks, while Zaire Bush contributed 1½ tackles behind the line.

East Los Angeles finished with only 54 net rushing yards on 31 attempts, an average of 1.7 yards per carry.

The Huskies used three quarterbacks and completed 14 of 26 passes for 157 yards. Palomar’s pressure made sustained offense nearly impossible.

East L.A. converted only 3 of 13 third downs and 1 of 5 fourth-down attempts.

Matthew Gutierrez intercepted a pass for the second consecutive week, returning the takeaway 17 yards during the third quarter. Gutierrez also finished with six tackles.

Kamaka Lorenzo recorded seven tackles and a tackle for loss, while Doyle added seven stops and shared another tackle behind the line.

OFFENSE DOES ENOUGH

Schuback completed 14 of 27 passes for 192 yards without an interception. He distributed the ball to six receivers while helping Palomar finish with 365 total yards and 21 first downs.

Spencer Hoang led the Comets with three receptions for 55 yards. Phoenix Johnson caught two passes for 45 yards, including a 32-yard gain, and Princeton Anderson added four receptions for 40 yards.

The offense failed to score after halftime and lost two fumbles, preventing Palomar from turning the game into a larger rout.

East Los Angeles possessed the ball for more than 32 minutes and produced several lengthy second-half drives, but Palomar repeatedly ended them on downs or with a takeaway.

The Huskies reached the Palomar 8 during an 11-play third-quarter possession before the Comets stopped them on fourth down. Two East L.A. fourth-quarter drives also ended on downs.

Palomar’s defense protected the 19-point margin despite the offense failing to add to it.

The result gave the Comets consecutive victories after they went winless in seven games against ranked opponents last season.

Palomar will remain home to face Pasadena City on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Lancers defeated Santa Barbara City in their Week 2 matchup before preparing for their trip to San Marcos.

The competition becomes considerably stronger after that.

Palomar travels to face unbeaten San Diego Mesa on Sept. 19 in an early National Division showdown between two teams that have made immediate statewide statements.

NEXT GAME

Pasadena City at Palomar (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m.
Palomar College

EAST LOS ANGELES 7, PALOMAR 26

East Los Angeles — 0  7  0  0 —  7
Palomar          — 14 12  0  0 — 26

SCORING

First quarter

• PAL — Noah Schuback 1-yard run (Carson Beard kick), 10:36.
• PAL — Maurice Howard 17-yard run (Beard kick), 2:42.

Second quarter

• ELAC — Tegan Melendez 12-yard pass to Jaden Thomas (Casey Sanchez kick), 13:36.
• PAL — Beard 40-yard field goal, 9:35.
• PAL — Tanner Doyle 9-yard fumble return (Beard kick), 7:51.
• PAL — Safety, 6:02.

PALOMAR LEADERS

Passing: Noah Schuback 14-27-192, 0 INT.

Rushing: Maurice Howard 6-55, TD; Schuback 7-51, TD; Bowyn Cannon 7-39; Brady Powell 6-31.

Receiving: Spencer Hoang 3-55; Phoenix Johnson 2-45; Princeton Anderson 4-40; Treyson Ikeomu 2-27.

Defense: Jonathan Class 9 tackles, 5½ TFL, 2 sacks, forced fumble, 5 quarterback hurries; Tanner Doyle 7 tackles, fumble-return touchdown; Kamaka Lorenzo 7 tackles, TFL; Matthew Gutierrez 6 tackles, interception.

Kicking: Carson Beard 40-yard field goal, 3 PATs, six points.

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