Comets fizzle in first loss of season

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 13, 2026

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NO. 22 PASADENA CITY 26, NO. 15 PALOMAR 17

Pasadena controls line of scrimmage, ends Comets’ unbeaten start

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN MARCOS — Palomar could throw the football, protect its quarterback and avoid turnovers.

The Comets could not control the line of scrimmage.

Pasadena City rushed for 191 yards, converted both of its fourth-down attempts and answered every Palomar rally during a 26-17 victory Saturday night at Palomar Stadium.

The loss ended Palomar’s unbeaten start and handed first-year head coach Thom Kaumeyer his first defeat with the Comets.

Palomar quarterback Noah Schuback completed 21 of 39 passes for a season-high 269 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He distributed the football to nine receivers and was not sacked.

Those numbers ordinarily describe a winning performance.

They became necessary because Pasadena reduced Palomar’s running game to 67 yards on 19 attempts and controlled the football for more than 31 minutes.

The Comets entered the game having rushed for 173 yards against East Los Angeles while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Pasadena limited them to 3.5 yards per attempt and prevented any Palomar runner from gaining more than eight yards on a single carry.

Meanwhile, Dom Ezeonye rushed 27 times for 165 yards, accounting for more than half of Pasadena’s total offense.

The Lancers did not produce the explosive offensive display they unleashed during their 54-point victory over Santa Barbara.

They produced something more damaging to Palomar.

They remained on schedule, finished drives and never allowed the Comets to take control after briefly moving ahead early in the second quarter.

Palomar fell to 2-1 with No. 10 San Diego Mesa waiting next.

PASADENA STRIKES FIRST

Pasadena established its approach on a nine-play, 75-yard opening touchdown drive.

Quarterback Xavier Buckles completed the possession by finding Cam Mitchell for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Lancers a 7-0 lead with 7:16 remaining in the opening quarter.

Buckles did not compile an enormous passing total, but he made his completions count.

The sophomore completed 10 of 18 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. His scoring throws covered 25, 12 and 13 yards.

Pasadena rushed 46 times and attempted only 18 passes, placing most of the offensive responsibility on Ezeonye and its offensive line.

The formula kept Palomar’s pass rush from dictating the game.

The Comets entered the night after producing six sacks and 14 tackles for loss against East Los Angeles. Against Pasadena, they finished with one sack and five tackles behind the line.

That difference represented the first indication that the game would not follow Palomar’s preferred script.

SCHUBACK ANSWERS DEEP

Palomar produced its first response on the opening snap of the second quarter.

Schuback found Princeton Anderson for a 44-yard touchdown, immediately cutting into Pasadena’s advantage.

Bowyn Cannon caught the two-point conversion, giving the Comets an 8-7 lead with 14:52 remaining before halftime.

The touchdown demonstrated Palomar’s ability to create explosive plays through the air.

Anderson finished with three receptions for 60 yards, averaging 20 yards per catch.

The lead lasted only 5 minutes, 35 seconds.

Pasadena received a 42-yard kickoff return from Matthew Amin-Picado, began its next possession at the Palomar 49 and again reached the end zone.

Buckles rolled away from pressure and found Mitchell for a 12-yard touchdown, restoring the Lancers’ advantage at 14-8 with 9:17 remaining in the half.

Mitchell caught four passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Pasadena’s response established the evening’s pattern.

Every time Palomar moved close enough to threaten the lead, the Lancers answered.

MISSED CHANCE BEFORE HALFTIME

The Comets had an opportunity to reduce the deficit before intermission.

Palomar drove inside the Pasadena 10, but the Lancers prevented the Comets from completing the possession with a touchdown.

Carson Beard attempted a 23-yard field goal during the closing seconds of the half, but the kick went wide right.

Palomar entered the locker room trailing 14-8 despite moving the football effectively through the air and avoiding a turnover.

The missed kick became more important as the game progressed.

Beard later converted from 26 yards, but Palomar finished with a missed field goal and a blocked extra point in a nine-point loss.

Pasadena kicker Zack Hutchinson, by comparison, converted both of his field-goal attempts and both extra points.

Hutchinson’s eight kicking points nearly matched the final margin by themselves.

LONG DRIVE PRODUCES ONLY THREE

Palomar opened the second half with one of its most sustained possessions.

The Comets ran 13 plays, covered 61 yards and consumed 5:23.

Pasadena again prevented them from reaching the end zone.

Beard’s 26-yard field goal reduced the deficit to 14-11 with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Comets had moved within three points and appeared ready to shift the pressure to Pasadena.

The Lancers needed only 2:20 to respond.

Ezeonye broke a 44-yard run, his longest of the night, and placed Pasadena deep in Palomar territory.

On third-and-goal, Buckles delivered a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dmariya Thomas while facing pressure from Nash Cooper.

Palomar’s pass-interference penalty was declined because Thomas completed the catch.

The two-point conversion failed, but Pasadena’s lead had returned to 20-11.

Once again, the Comets expended considerable effort to reduce the margin.

Once again, Pasadena immediately restored it.

LANCERS KEEP ADDING

Pasadena extended its advantage after forcing another Palomar possession to end without points.

Hutchinson converted a 29-yard field goal with 2:32 remaining in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 23-11.

Palomar’s defense had prevented a touchdown, but the Lancers continued collecting points on every productive possession.

Pasadena converted all four of its officially listed red-zone opportunities. It also went 2-for-2 on fourth down.

Palomar failed on its only fourth-down attempt.

That situational difference mattered more than the final yardage.

The Comets outgained Pasadena 336-322 and did not commit a turnover. They also finished with 138 more passing yards.

Pasadena won the moments that determined whether drives ended with points.

SCHUBACK CREATES ONE FINAL CHANCE

Palomar opened the fourth quarter with its best opportunity to change the outcome.

Schuback completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Phoenix Johnson only four seconds into the period, cutting Pasadena’s lead to 23-17.

Johnson finished with three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Palomar was back within one possession.

The Comets needed a defensive stop to give Schuback an opportunity to take the lead.

Pasadena instead produced the game’s most important drive.

The Lancers ran 11 plays, covered 36 yards and consumed 5:59. Ezeonye continued carrying the football, and Pasadena converted enough short-yardage opportunities to keep the clock moving.

Palomar finally stopped the Lancers before the end zone, but Hutchinson converted a 30-yard field goal.

The kick extended Pasadena’s lead to 26-17 with 8:50 remaining and forced Palomar to score twice.

More importantly, the possession removed nearly six minutes from the fourth-quarter clock immediately after the Comets had created their strongest surge.

It was not a spectacular closing sequence.

It was controlled, physical football—the same formula Pasadena had used throughout the evening.

Palomar never answered again.

SCHUBACK SPREADS THE FOOTBALL

Schuback produced his best passing total of the young season.

His 21 completions went to nine receivers, and four Comets produced at least 38 yards.

Dominic Hawk led Palomar with four receptions for 81 yards, averaging 20.3 yards per catch. Anderson added 60 yards and the 44-yard touchdown.

Spencer Hoang caught two passes for 47 yards, including a 36-yard reception. Johnson scored on one of his three catches, while Treyson Ikeomu added three receptions for 31 yards.

Schuback finished without an interception for the third consecutive game. He has opened the season with no interceptions in 75 passing attempts.

Pasadena also failed to record a sack.

The Lancers nevertheless limited Palomar to 17 points by keeping completions in front of the defense and preventing the passing production from being supported by a credible rushing threat.

Palomar generated five passing plays covering at least 20 yards.

Too few of them became touchdowns.

RUNNING GAME DISAPPEARS

Maurice Howard led Palomar with only 34 yards on 10 carries.

Schuback added 26 yards on five attempts, including a 17-yard scramble. Cannon and Toa Howard combined for seven yards on four carries.

No Palomar running back gained more than eight yards on a carry.

The Comets finished with only four rushing first downs. Pasadena produced 14.

Palomar’s inability to run changed the structure of the game.

Schuback attempted 39 passes while the Comets ran only 19 times. Pasadena could commit additional attention to coverage without consistently paying for it at the line of scrimmage.

The imbalance also prevented Palomar from controlling the clock once it climbed within six points early in the fourth quarter.

Against East Los Angeles, the Comets scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and rushed for 173 yards.

Against Pasadena, their backs combined for only 41 yards on 14 carries.

Mesa will present an even more severe challenge if that production does not improve.

EZEONYE CHANGES THE TERMS

Ezeonye became the first opposing runner to control a game against Palomar this season.

The Comets had held Ventura and East Los Angeles to a combined 114 rushing yards through two games.

Ezeonye surpassed that total by himself.

His 165 yards on 27 carries represented 86 percent of Pasadena’s rushing production. He averaged 6.1 yards per attempt and broke the 44-yard run that set up Thomas’ third-quarter touchdown.

Ezeonye did not score.

He did nearly everything required to create Pasadena’s points.

His running helped the Lancers record 21 first downs, possess the ball for 31:11 and maintain enough offensive balance for Buckles to throw three touchdowns on only 10 completions.

Pasadena’s offensive line also kept Palomar from producing the wave of negative plays that overwhelmed East Los Angeles.

The Comets managed only five tackles for loss after recording 14 the previous week.

LIVINGSTON LEADS DEFENSE

Andrew Livingston recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for loss.

The sophomore repeatedly finished plays after Ezeonye reached the second level.

Zaire Bush added seven tackles and one tackle for loss, while Kameron Betts and Hezekiah Wells made six apiece.

Wells recorded Palomar’s only sack, dropping Buckles for a 3-yard loss.

Bubba Garcia intercepted Buckles, giving him another takeaway in a secondary that has consistently made plays through the opening three weeks.

Garcia finished with four tackles. Tresean Ellis added five tackles and a pass breakup, while Cooper recorded four solo stops and two quarterback hurries.

The defense kept Palomar within striking distance despite Pasadena’s rushing advantage.

It could not produce the late three-and-out the Comets required.

Pasadena’s six-minute fourth-quarter possession ultimately prevented Palomar from turning its final touchdown into a complete comeback.

CLASS ABSENT FROM THE STAT SHEET

Palomar’s most disruptive defender through the first two weeks, Jonathan Class, did not record a statistic against Pasadena.

Class entered the game tied among the SCFA leaders with 2½ sacks after producing nine tackles, 5½ tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and five quarterback hurries against East Los Angeles.

Whether because of Pasadena’s blocking plan, personnel circumstances or a reduced role, his absence from the final defensive totals was conspicuous.

Pasadena prevented Palomar’s entire front from taking over.

The Comets recorded only one sack for 3 yards. Buckles was intercepted once but otherwise remained clean enough to complete three scoring throws.

Class and the Palomar pass rush will become central figures in the next matchup.

Mesa quarterback Diesel Taylor just threw six touchdown passes against Citrus.

Allowing him the same operating room Pasadena created for Buckles would place the Comets in immediate trouble.

FIRST SETBACK OF KAUMEYER ERA

Palomar’s first two victories demonstrated the immediate influence of Kaumeyer’s arrival.

The Comets upset then-No. 6 Ventura on the road, 19-6, and overwhelmed East Los Angeles, 26-7. Their defense allowed only 13 points through two games and repeatedly created sacks, turnovers and field-changing plays.

Pasadena presented a different challenge.

The Lancers protected the football apart from Garcia’s interception, remained committed to the running game and converted every important scoring opportunity.

Palomar did not collapse.

The Comets simply spent most of the night responding instead of dictating.

They trailed for all but 5:35, never led during the second half and could not establish the physical advantage that carried them through their opening victories.

It was a credible loss against a ranked opponent.

It was also a warning.

Palomar cannot become entirely dependent on Schuback producing nearly 300 passing yards. The running game and defensive front must reappear if the Comets expect to compete with Mesa’s explosive offense.

There is no recovery week built into the schedule.

The next examination may be the most difficult one yet.

MESA AWAITS

Palomar travels to face No. 10 San Diego Mesa (3-0) on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Olympians scored 10 touchdowns in a 68-28 road victory over Citrus.

Taylor completed 12 of 22 passes for 234 yards and six touchdowns, with half of his completions reaching the end zone.

Colin McCann caught four passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns, while Isaiah Jackson returned a kickoff 89 yards and Logan Factor returned an interception 43 yards for another score.

Former Helix and Michigan State quarterback Ryland Jessee added a 34-yard touchdown run and a 4-yard scoring pass to Joshua Newbern.

Mesa scored on offense, defense and special teams while accumulating 419 yards in only 22:55 of possession.

The Olympians also supplied Palomar with potential openings.

Mesa committed 16 penalties for 151 yards, converted only 4 of 16 third downs and allowed Citrus to possess the football for more than 37 minutes.

Palomar must turn those mistakes into extended possessions and touchdowns—not field-goal attempts.

The matchup will pair Mesa’s explosive offense against a Palomar defense seeking to reestablish the pressure that defined its first two games.

It also carries considerable county significance.

Southwestern is 3-0 and idle this week. The Jaguars will host Mesa following the Olympians’ game against Palomar.

A Mesa victory would create an unbeaten showdown between the Olympians and Jaguars.

A Palomar victory would place the Comets directly back into the county conversation and prevent the season’s local hierarchy from becoming a two-team race.

The loss to Pasadena did not destroy Palomar’s promising start.

It eliminated the Comets’ margin for another performance like it.

WHERE PASADENA WON

Category	Pasadena City	Palomar
Rushing yards	191	67
Rushing attempts	46	19
Rushing first downs	14	4
Fourth downs	2-for-2	0-for-1
Field goals	2-for-2	1-for-2
Extra points	2-for-2	0-for-1
Penalties	6-44	9-96
Possession	31:11	27:22

Palomar outgained Pasadena 336-322 and committed no turnovers but lost the rushing, kicking and situational battles.

SCHUBACK’S BEST PASSING NIGHT

Noah Schuback, Palomar

21-of-39 passing
269 yards
Two touchdowns
No interceptions
No sacks
Completed passes to nine receivers
Touchdown passes of 44 and 12 yards

Schuback has not thrown an interception through Palomar’s first three games.

PALOMAR RECEIVING LEADERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Long
Dominic Hawk	4	81	0	26
Princeton Anderson	3	60	1	44
Spencer Hoang	2	47	0	36
Phoenix Johnson	3	38	1	15
Treyson Ikeomu	3	31	0	20

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

Andrew Livingston: 12 tackles, tackle for loss.

Zaire Bush: Seven tackles, tackle for loss.

Kameron Betts: Six tackles, tackle for loss.

Hezekiah Wells: Six tackles, 3-yard sack.

Tresean Ellis: Five tackles, pass breakup.

Bubba Garcia: Four tackles, interception.

Nash Cooper: Four solo tackles, two quarterback hurries.

NEXT GAME

NO. 15 PALOMAR (2-1) at NO. 10 SAN DIEGO MESA (3-0)
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 6 p.m.
Mesa College

Central matchup: Palomar’s pass rush against Mesa quarterback Diesel Taylor, who threw six touchdown passes at Citrus.

Palomar’s offensive priority: Reestablish a running game that produced only 67 yards against Pasadena.

Opportunity: Mesa committed 16 penalties for 151 yards and converted only 4 of 16 third downs against Citrus.

SCORING

First quarter

PCC — Xavier Buckles 25-yard pass to Cam Mitchell (Zack Hutchinson kick), 7:16.

Second quarter

PAL — Noah Schuback 44-yard pass to Princeton Anderson (Bowyn Cannon conversion reception), 14:52.
PCC — Buckles 12-yard pass to Mitchell (Hutchinson kick), 9:17.

Third quarter

PAL — Carson Beard 26-yard field goal, 9:32.
PCC — Buckles 13-yard pass to Dmariya Thomas (conversion failed), 7:12.
PCC — Hutchinson 29-yard field goal, 2:32.

Fourth quarter

PAL — Schuback 12-yard pass to Phoenix Johnson (kick blocked), 14:56.
PCC — Hutchinson 30-yard field goal, 8:50.

Pasadena City — 7  7  9  3 — 26
Palomar       — 0  8  3  6 — 17

EastCountySports.com

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