Jaguars fall at No. 1; Mesa, Comets both OT

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 19, 2026

Southwestern's Caleb Blocker is wrapped up by Riverside on Saturday.

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Southwestern’s unbeaten run ends against No. 1. Tigers; Mesa loses another OT battle, while Palomar snaps four-game skid

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

Southwestern College traded big plays with California’s top-ranked community college football team Saturday, but two early mistakes helped create a deficit the Jaguars could never erase.

No. 1 Riverside defeated No. 3 Southwestern, 38-28, at Wheelock Stadium, ending the Jaguars’ eight-game winning streak and taking sole possession of first place in the National Southern League.

The county’s two evening games required overtime, with sharply different results.

No. 4 San Diego Mesa fell to No. 5 Saddleback, 30-27, at Merrill Douglas Stadium, while Palomar defeated No. 20 El Camino, 24-21, on Carson Beard’s 43-yard overtime field goal.

Southwestern and Saddleback now share second place at 3-1 in league, one game behind unbeaten Riverside. Mesa slipped to 2-2, tied with Chaffey, while Palomar earned its first league victory.

NO. 1 RIVERSIDE 38, NO. 3 SOUTHWESTERN 28

Jaguars’ explosive passing cannot overcome early damage

RIVERSIDE — Southwestern struck first, outgained Riverside and twice pulled within a touchdown during the second quarter.

The Jaguars could not produce the defensive stop or sustained offensive finish needed to complete the comeback.

Dominic Duran threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, but Riverside converted a blocked punt and a lost Southwestern fumble into first-quarter touchdowns, then stopped the Jaguars on all four fourth-down attempts.

Southwestern fell to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in league. Riverside improved to 7-0 and 4-0, remaining the National Division’s only unbeaten team.

The matchup carried national significance as well. Riverside entered No. 2 nationally and Southwestern No. 6 in the pregame national rankings.

The Jaguars immediately demonstrated their ability to challenge the Tigers.

Duran found Ahmad “AJ” Perry II for a 60-yard touchdown, giving Southwestern a 7-0 lead with 12:34 remaining in the opening quarter.

Riverside answered with an 81-yard touchdown drive, then capitalized on two short fields to take control.

Jaylen Gooden’s 11-yard touchdown run tied the game. After Jontavious James blocked a Southwestern punt, Kurelle Thomas finished the ensuing possession with a 1-yard scoring run.

On Southwestern’s next possession, Shakir Collins sacked Duran and forced a fumble that Caden Arellano recovered at the Jaguars’ 6.

Gooden scored on the next play, putting Riverside ahead 21-7.

Southwestern responded with a 15-play, 65-yard drive, capped by Caleb Blocker’s 4-yard touchdown run with 10:02 left in the half.

The teams continued exchanging scores.

Riverside quarterback Christopher Cooper scored from the 1 after a 36-yard completion to Mahki Gray-Virgil. Duran countered with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Titus White, bringing Southwestern within 28-21.

The Jaguars could not carry that one-score margin into halftime.

Armon Hornsby’s 38-yard kickoff return gave Riverside possession at the Southwestern 37. Gooden finished the short drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, his third score of the half, sending the Tigers into the break ahead 35-21.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Southwestern’s defense recovered a Riverside fumble to keep the deficit manageable, but the Jaguars later stalled near midfield. Blocker was stopped on third-and-1, and Riverside denied the ensuing fourth-down attempt.

The Tigers turned that stand into James Holt’s 42-yard field goal, extending their lead to 38-21 with 11:34 remaining.

Duran’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Bean-Seay cut the margin to 10 with 8:28 left.

Southwestern had two more possessions, including another opportunity following a Riverside fumble, but could not score. Consecutive sacks ended the Jaguars’ final threat, and Gooden helped Riverside run out the clock.

Gooden finished with 138 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. All five Riverside touchdowns came on the ground.

Duran completed 17 of 33 passes without an interception. Bean-Seay led Southwestern with six catches for 69 yards, White added two receptions for 62 yards, and Blocker rushed for 67 yards on 15 carries.

The Jaguars finished with a 405-341 advantage in total offense, but Riverside’s five sacks and fourth-down stops prevented that yardage from becoming enough points.

Defense keeps second-half comeback possible

Southwestern allowed only three second-half points, giving its offense opportunities to work back into the game after Riverside’s 35-point first half.

Niko Ta’a led the Jaguars with 13 tackles, followed by Valentino Wedderburn with 10 and former Christian High standout Brady Eads with nine.

Exodus Ayers recorded a sack and recovered a fumble. Damarrion White added a sack and forced a fumble, while Haneef Bilal recovered Southwestern’s other takeaway.

The Jaguars won the turnover count, 2-1, and possessed the ball for 33:32, but the early blocked punt and fumble gave Riverside two scoring opportunities inside the Southwestern 30.

LOOKING AHEAD: Southwestern visits El Camino on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. The Warriors are 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league following their overtime loss at Palomar.

The Jaguars remain tied for second and have a direct meeting with fellow second-place Saddleback still ahead on Oct. 31.

NO. 5 SADDLEBACK 30, NO. 4 SAN DIEGO MESA 27, OT

McCann’s two touchdowns cannot prevent another overtime loss

SAN DIEGO — Mesa twice built a 10-point lead and reclaimed the advantage in the fourth quarter, but could not close out Saddleback in a meeting of top-five teams.

Manuel Maganda made a 43-yard tying field goal with just over two minutes remaining, then connected from 35 yards in overtime as the Bobcats escaped with a 30-27 victory.

Mesa’s answering overtime possession ended with a missed field-goal attempt after a third-down sack pushed the Olympians backward.

The result dropped Mesa to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in league. Both Olympians losses have come in overtime, following their triple-overtime defeat at Southwestern.

Saddleback improved to 6-1 and 3-1.

Colin McCann caught eight passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for both scoring passes from Diesel Taylor.

Their second connection, a 22-yard touchdown with 7:51 remaining, put Mesa ahead 27-24 after Saddleback had rallied into its first lead.

The Bobcats answered with a 13-play possession that ended in Maganda’s tying kick.

Maganda finished 3-for-3 on field goals, also converting from 31 yards in the first quarter, and supplied 12 points.

Mesa established the early advantage behind Robert Petrich’s field goals of 45 and 41 yards and Devin Cerda’s 4-yard touchdown run.

Cerda’s score gave the Olympians a 13-3 lead with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter.

Saddleback answered shortly before halftime when Timmy Herr found Jake Cella for a 1-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left, trimming Mesa’s advantage to 13-10.

Taylor and McCann restored the 10-point margin with a 33-yard touchdown connection in the third quarter.

Again, Saddleback responded.

Elijah Ayala scored on a 4-yard run, and Lennox Naea added a 6-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the Bobcats ahead 24-20.

Mesa regained the lead on McCann’s second touchdown, but Maganda delivered the final six points.

Taylor completed 20 of 34 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Former Monte Vista High standout Alexander Villanueva led Mesa with 56 rushing yards on 17 carries and added three receptions. Cerda gained 31 yards on eight attempts.

Saddleback held a 394-344 advantage in total offense, including 198-99 on the ground. Ayala led the Bobcats with 94 rushing yards, while Herr passed for 196.

Overtime again separates Olympians from league leaders

Mesa’s two league defeats have come by a combined five points, both requiring extra possessions.

Saturday’s loss came despite the Olympians playing without an offensive turnover and receiving another productive performance from Taylor and McCann.

Kealii Sione led Mesa with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss. Joshua Spencer added six tackles, and Tobiah Araujo recorded the Olympians’ sack.

Beau Caliendo intercepted Herr.

LOOKING AHEAD: Mesa visits Chaffey on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., with both teams 5-2 overall and 2-2 in league.

The Panthers are coming off a 30-24 victory at Mt. San Jacinto. Frankie Villabazo passed for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two scores, while Jeremy Lenore gained 77 yards on 14 carries.

Chaffey forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Eric Bell, and received an 85-yard kickoff-return touchdown from Theodore Edquilang. Those contributions offer a warning for Mesa, which played without an offensive turnover against Saddleback but still fell in overtime.

The Panthers also surrendered 329 passing yards, presenting an opportunity for Diesel Taylor and Colin McCann as the Olympians attempt to rebound.

PALOMAR 24, NO. 20 EL CAMINO 21, OT

Beard’s winning kick ends Comets’ four-game skid

SAN MARCOS — Palomar’s defense kept El Camino scoreless after halftime, and Carson Beard supplied the finish.

Beard’s 43-yard field goal in overtime lifted the Comets to a 24-21 victory Saturday, ending a four-game losing streak and giving Palomar its first National Southern League win.

The Comets improved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league, matching El Camino’s records.

Spencer Hoang caught 11 passes for 109 yards, Santiago Singh-Kim intercepted two passes, and Dominic Hawk returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown as Palomar found contributions across all three phases.

The Comets trailed 21-13 at halftime before Noah Schuback’s 10-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion tied the game in the third quarter.

Neither team scored in the fourth, setting up Beard’s overtime winner.

Palomar opened the scoring on Brady Powell’s 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

El Camino answered in the second when Colin Creason connected with Cameron Brewer for a 78-yard touchdown.

Hawk immediately returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, restoring Palomar’s lead. The conversion attempt failed, leaving the Comets ahead 13-7.

The Warriors scored twice more before halftime on touchdown passes from Maika Eugenio to Alec Saunders and Nazarus Williams, taking an eight-point advantage into the break.

Palomar did not allow another point.

Schuback finished 22 of 40 for 230 yards, with two interceptions. Powell led the Comets’ rushing attack with 26 yards.

Eugenio passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns for El Camino, while Saunders caught 10 passes for 159 yards.

The Warriors outgained Palomar 362-289, but the Comets limited El Camino to 37 rushing yards on 31 attempts and collected three takeaways.

Jonathan Class led Palomar with eight tackles and 2½ tackles for loss. Dallas Kealohanui and Tanner Doyle each recorded seven tackles.

Doyle also recovered a fumble, complementing Singh-Kim’s two interceptions.

Punter Taylor McCall helped control field position, placing five of his six punts inside the 20. Beard recorded touchbacks on all four kickoffs before delivering the deciding field goal.

LOOKING AHEAD: Palomar travels to Saddleback on Saturday, Oct. 24, for a 1 p.m. kickoff on the Bobcats’ Military Appreciation Day.

The Comets will face a Saddleback team coming off its overtime victory at Mesa, with Maganda providing a particularly timely reminder of how much a dependable kicking game can matter.