Pacific best Griffins, Corsairs collide

2026 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

LEAGUE FRONT-RUNNERS MEET AT GROSSMONT THIS SATURDAY AT 2 P.M.

Unbeaten Santa Monica brings league’s most productive offense to Mashin-Roth for a first-place test against the surging Griffins

By RAMON SCOTT
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Grossmont has spent the past three weeks learning how to win different kinds of football games.

The Griffins survived a one-point finish against Los Angeles Valley. They controlled Victor Valley on the road. Now they receive an opportunity to prove that their three-game winning streak represents more than a recovery against manageable opposition.

Unbeaten Santa Monica visits Mashin-Roth Memorial Field on Saturday for a meeting between the only two remaining undefeated teams in the American Pacific League.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Corsairs arrive with a 6-0 overall record and a 2-0 league mark, although one victory is an administratively awarded forfeit against L.A. Pierce. Grossmont enters 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play after defeating Victor Valley 34-16.

Santa Monica received 15 points in this week’s JC Athletic Bureau/CCCFCA state poll, placing the Corsairs in a tie for the final Top 25 position. Grossmont received one vote.

The rankings place Santa Monica slightly ahead.

The matchup itself appears considerably closer.

Computer projections favor Grossmont by approximately four points, reflecting the Griffins’ home-field advantage and their improving play during the past three weeks.

The winner will take control of the Pacific race and earn the division’s most meaningful victory to date.

For Grossmont, it is the season’s most important game to date.

GRIFFINS FINISH A COMPLETE GAME

Grossmont’s 34-16 victory at Victor Valley provided its most complete performance since the season-opening rout of Compton.

The Griffins accumulated 401 yards, rushed for 227, controlled possession for nearly 35 minutes and limited the Rams to 214 total yards.

They also finished the game properly.

After Victor Valley reduced Grossmont’s lead to 27-16 with 6:16 remaining, the Griffins responded with an eight-play, 49-yard touchdown drive that consumed more than four minutes.

Michael Kearns III carried toward the goal line on the finishing play. When the football came loose, Nassir Hicks recovered it in the end zone to complete the scoring.

It was not the cleanest touchdown Grossmont has produced this season.

It might have been one of its most representative.

“Our team motto is ‘The We over Me mentality,’” Grossmont coach Mason Mitchell said. “When we can prioritize the we, the me benefits, and we hold them to it.”

Mitchell believed that mentality began to surface against Victor Valley.

“We saw that come to fruition on Saturday,” he said. “If we play to our strengths and keep that mentality, then we will have a great year.”

Grossmont will need both elements against Santa Monica.

The Griffins must recognize what they do well—and remain patient enough to continue doing it when the Corsairs inevitably produce points.

STRENGTH AGAINST STRENGTH

Santa Monica’s most imposing statistic is not its 38.8 points per game.

It is the Corsairs’ defensive performance against the run.

Santa Monica’s published team statistics credit the Corsairs with allowing only 17.4 rushing yards per game while surrendering 243.6 total yards per contest.

Grossmont just produced its best rushing performance of the season.

Ethan Ford carried 19 times for 96 yards against Victor Valley. Quarterback Melvin Spicer IV added 56 yards and a touchdown, while Myles Norman broke a 21-yard scoring run during the fourth quarter.

Grossmont finished with 227 rushing yards on 47 attempts.

That physical approach allowed the Griffins to convert 10 of 18 third downs, hold the ball for 34:59 and protect their defense from excessive snaps.

The Griffins are unlikely to produce another comfortable victory without establishing the same formula Saturday.

Santa Monica has scored at least 30 points in five consecutive on-field games and has surpassed 40 three times. If Grossmont cannot run the ball, control possession and keep the Corsairs’ offense on the sideline, the game could shift rapidly.

Ford enters as Grossmont’s leading rusher. Spicer’s ability to create yards outside the designed running game provides another concern for a defense determined to control the line of scrimmage.

Norman also presents a multidimensional threat. He has contributed as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner, scoring in all three phases during the season.

The battle between Grossmont’s developing ground game and Santa Monica’s run defense may determine whether the Griffins can dictate the game—or spend the afternoon chasing it.

CLARKSON COMMANDS CORSAIRS

Santa Monica quarterback Pierce Clarkson directs an offense averaging 399 yards and 38.8 points per game.

The St. John Bosco graduate completed 25 of 41 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 42-14 victory over L.A. Valley.

Clarkson connected with Amir Smith 12 times for 190 yards and two touchdowns, including a 56-yard score. Braydon Sanford added eight receptions for 83 yards, and Lamont White caught a touchdown pass.

Santa Monica finished with 487 yards, including 346 through the air, and converted 14 of 19 third downs.

The Corsairs can force a defense to cover the width of the field, remain disciplined through extended possessions and prevent modest gains from becoming explosive plays.

That places pressure on a Grossmont secondary that has produced timely takeaways but has also surrendered 238 passing yards per game through its first five on-field contests.

The Griffins have intercepted six passes.

Isaac Turner owns two of them, both coming against L.A. Valley, including his 100-yard touchdown return. Quincy Shepard Jr. and Damari Jones delivered interceptions at Victor Valley, while Jonathan Smith and Alejandro Martinez-Rodriguez have also produced takeaways.

Against Santa Monica, interceptions cannot merely improve the statistics.

Grossmont likely needs at least one to change possession—and perhaps the game.

SMITH PRESENTS PRIMARY CONCERN

Santa Monica’s receiving production begins with Smith.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound redshirt freshman repeatedly separated from L.A. Valley’s secondary and accounted for more than half of the Corsairs’ passing yardage.

His 12 receptions included touchdowns covering 14 and 56 yards.

Sanford provides Clarkson with a dependable possession target, while White gives Santa Monica another option capable of working underneath or stretching the defense.

Grossmont must generate pressure without leaving those receivers isolated for too long.

The Griffins produced two sacks and 10 tackles for loss at Victor Valley. Runnar Miller Jr. led that effort with two sacks and three tackles behind the line.

For the season, Jeremiah Savaiinaea Jr., Avery Morris, Lincoln Chukwuemeka, James Tivao and Esai Valera have also contributed to a pass rush that has become deeper and more disruptive.

Clarkson was not sacked by L.A. Valley.

Allowing him the same amount of comfort Saturday would place an enormous burden on Grossmont’s secondary.

NOBLES LEADS DEFENSE

Santa Monica freshman linebacker Robert Nobles enters the game after earning SCFA American Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Nobles recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against L.A. Valley.

The Corsairs forced three turnovers, recorded two sacks and held the Monarchs to only 18 rushing yards.

Santa Monica’s defense has allowed 14.2 points per game and has not surrendered more than 27 in any contest.

The Corsairs’ closest game came Sept. 12 at Victor Valley, where they escaped with a 30-27 victory.

That result offers Grossmont some encouragement. The Griffins handled the same Victor Valley team more convincingly two weeks later, although comparisons involving different dates and circumstances can reveal only so much.

What matters more is that Santa Monica has demonstrated an ability to win both shootouts and lower-scoring games.

Grossmont must be prepared for either.

SPICER’S DECISION-MAKING

Spicer supplied one of his most efficient performances of the season against Victor Valley.

He completed 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards, threw a 71-yard touchdown to Trenice Woods, rushed for 56 yards and did not commit a turnover.

His ability to avoid the damaging play allowed Grossmont to remain patient even when penalties interrupted drives.

Spicer has passed for more than 800 yards with five touchdowns while adding three rushing scores. His mobility can help neutralize Santa Monica’s pressure, but extending plays will create risk against a defense capable of separating runners from the football.

Grossmont does not need Spicer to match Clarkson completion for completion.

It needs him to protect possessions, convert third downs and hit enough throws downfield to prevent the Corsairs from crowding the line against Ford.

Woods provided the explosive element last week. Norman, Jaidan Brooks, Januel Fernandez, Ladarrione Perkins, Demann Beverly and Isaac Syph give Grossmont several additional options in a receiving group without one overwhelming statistical leader.

That distribution can work to Grossmont’s advantage if Spicer remains composed.

PENALTIES STILL MATTER

Grossmont’s victory at Victor Valley did not eliminate its most persistent problem.

The Griffins committed 11 penalties for 138 yards.

Grossmont has repeatedly overcome heavy penalty totals through athletic plays, defensive stops and special-teams production. That formula becomes much more dangerous against an unbeaten opponent averaging nearly 39 points.

Santa Monica was hardly disciplined last week, committing 12 penalties for 111 yards against L.A. Valley.

Saturday could become a game in which the team that avoids the final drive-killing flag gains the decisive advantage.

Grossmont cannot reasonably expect to surrender another 100-plus yards without eventually allowing Santa Monica to convert one of those mistakes into points.

The Griffins were good enough to overcome the flags at Victor Valley.

Against Santa Monica, they may have to be disciplined enough to avoid them.

SPECIAL TEAMS DECISIVE

Both teams have demonstrated enough kicking ability to make a close fourth quarter particularly interesting.

Santa Monica’s Jack Malloy made field goals from 37 and 23 yards against L.A. Valley while finishing with 10 kicking points.

Grossmont has used three kickers effectively.

Philipa Trakas is perfect on three field-goal attempts, including the 43-yard winner against L.A. Valley. Jasper Brandenburg has made three field goals with a long of 45 yards, while Lucas Mora has also converted three and handles Grossmont’s punting duties.

The Griffins have made nine field goals, an unusually valuable total for a team that has already played two one-point games.

Grossmont also has a 90-yard kickoff-return touchdown from Norman this season.

Santa Monica countered last week with an 80-yard kickoff return by Isaac Andrews, one of several explosive special-teams plays in its victory.

Field position, coverage discipline and place-kicking could carry greater importance Saturday than either offense would prefer.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

This is not yet a league championship game.

It is the closest thing the American Pacific has offered.

Santa Monica and Grossmont are tied at 2-0 in conference play. San Bernardino Valley and West Los Angeles also remain unbeaten in league games but have each played only once.

A Grossmont victory would give the Griffins the conference’s best result, move them to 3-0 and strengthen their claim to a state ranking.

A Santa Monica victory would validate the Corsairs’ unbeaten start and create immediate separation from Grossmont.

The Griffins’ three-game winning streak has repaired much of the damage from consecutive losses to Southwestern and Antelope Valley.

Saturday provides an opportunity to accomplish something larger.

It gives Grossmont a chance to establish that its improvement can hold against an opponent arriving with an unbeaten record, a productive quarterback and a defense that has dominated the line of scrimmage.

PREDICTION

Santa Monica owns the better record and the more accomplished passing attack.

Grossmont enters with home-field advantage, an improving defense and a running game that delivered its strongest performance of the season last week.

The Corsairs should score.

The question is whether Grossmont can shorten the game, avoid the penalties that have repeatedly undermined its progress and force Clarkson into one costly decision.

The Griffins have spent three weeks finding ways to win.

This time, the challenge is to find one against an opponent that has not lost.

GROSSMONT 28, SANTA MONICA 27

COUNTY NOTEBOOK

Southwestern climbed five positions to No. 3 in the state following its 44-42 triple-overtime victory over San Diego Mesa.

The Jaguars are 5-0 and trail only Riverside and San Mateo in the JC Athletic Bureau/CCCFCA poll.

Mesa slipped only two positions, from fourth to No. 6, following its first defeat. The Olympians remain one of California’s highest-ranked one-loss teams.

Southwestern strong safety Valentino Wedderburn was selected as the SCFA National Division Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes against Mesa.

Wedderburn returned one interception 55 yards for a touchdown, added six tackles and produced another interception during the second half. His pick-six supplied Southwestern’s first points after Mesa opened the game with a 7-0 lead.

Southwestern, Mesa and Palomar are idle this weekend. Their schedules resume Thursday, Oct. 8, when Mesa visits El Camino and Palomar travels to Southwestern.

That leaves Grossmont as the county’s only community college team in action Saturday.

GAME AT A GLANCE

Santa Monica (6-0, 2-0) at Grossmont (4-2, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 3 — 2 p.m.
Mashin-Roth Memorial Field, El Cajon

Santa Monica offense: 399.0 yards, 38.8 points per game
Santa Monica defense: 243.6 yards, 14.2 points allowed per game
Grossmont streak: Won three
Santa Monica streak: Won six
State poll: Santa Monica tied for No. 25; Grossmont receiving votes
Last week: Grossmont 34, Victor Valley 16; Santa Monica 42, L.A. Valley 14

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