The Week Ahead for Hancock Athletics, Oct. 23-29
Three Hancockteams will host conference matches this week, while the football team opens a two-game road trip looking to stay atop fhte league standings. Here's a look at what's ahead for the Bulldogs this week.
FOOTBALL (2-0, 5-2)
This Week:
Saturday, Oct. 28 @ L.A. Pierce*, 4 p.m.
Off to their best seven-game start in five seasons, the Allan Hancock College football team will open a two-game road trip this Saturday, October 21, at L.A. Pierce. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in American Pacific League play and 5-2 overall. Hancock is tied for first with Antelope Valley. L.A. Pierce is 1-1 in league and 3-4 on the season.
This week, Hancock entered the state rankings for the first time since October 2015. Hancock is ranked No. 23 in this week's JC Athletic Bureau Poll of California Community College Football Coaches.
Hancock is coming off a 46-7 win over L.A. Valley, the defending league champion. The Bulldogs dominated the game with 429 total yards, including 364 rushing yards. Freshman Ryheem Skinner (Clinton HS) rushed for a career-high 145 yards and two touchdowns. He also broke a 41-year old program record for longest rushing touchdown with a 90-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Damon Whitmill, Jr. (N.Kansas City HS) compiled a career-best 104 yards. The Hancock defense forced five turnovers in the first half, including four fumbles. The Bulldogs held L.A. Valley to -13 rushing yards and 56 yards of total offense. Sophomore kicker Jordan Pollard (Righetti HS) kicked 26- and 27-yard field goals in the second half, and averaged 43.3 yards per punt, including a season-best 61-yard punt for the Bulldogs. As a result of his efforts as a kicker and punter, Pollard earned Pacific League Special Teams Player of the Week from the Southern California Football Association.
Statistically, Hancock ranks among the state's best in several categories. Hancock ranks fifth in the state averaging 238.4 rushing yards per game and sixth with 19 rushing touchdowns. On defense, the Bulldogs lead the state with 34 sacks, tied for third with 11 fumble recoveries and seventh with 13 interceptions. Sophomores Basiru Jobe (Upper Room Christian HS) and Osa Omokaro (Hillside HS) are tied for fourth in the state with 14 tackles for loss.
In its first two conference games, L.A. Pierce fell 7-6 to L.A. Valley and edged Citrus last week 28-27. Quarterback Jonathon Saavedra is the league leader with 151.9 passing yards per game. Hancock's Jimmy Kelleher (MacArthur HS) ranks second at 144.3 passing yards. Saavedra has nine touchdown passes and thrown nine interceptions. Joseph Branch is Pierce's leading receiver with 20 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns. He also averages 31 yards per kickoff return. Running back Kyshawn Richards leads the Brahmas with 414 rushing yards or 69 yards per game. Defensive back Justin Castell is the team's leading tackler with 58 or 8.3 per game.
Hancock has won its last 16 meetings with L.A. Pierce, including a 60-0 rout last season.
MEN'S SOCCER (1-3, 9-5-2)
This Week:
Tuesday, Oct. 24 vs. L.A. Mission *, 2 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 @ Santa Barbara *, 7 p.m.
The men's soccer team returns home to close the first half of Western State Conference play. The Bulldogs are 1-3 in league and 9-5-2 overall. Hancock will host L.A. Mission on Tuesday, October 24, at 2 p.m. before traveling to Santa Barbara City on Friday for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Vaqueros.
The Bulldogs split their two conference road games last week. Hancock started with a 6-1 win at Moorpark behind two goals apiece by sophomore Migel Gomez (Cabrillo HS) and freshman Ulysses Cardona (Lompoc HS). Gomez also assisted on three goals. Andres Montano (Santa Maria HS) and Francisco Ayala (Pioneer Valley HS) also scored for the Bulldogs. Hancock followed that with a 5-2 loss at defending league champion Oxnard. The Bulldogs led 2-1 until the 68th minute when the Condors went on a 4-0 run to close the match. Gomez and Cardona each found the back of the net once for the Bulldogs.
Cardona and Gomez are tied for third in the state with 11 goals. Gomez ranks second in California with 16 assists and 38 total points.
L.A. Mission is 0-2-2 in league and 4-7-4 overall. Javier Moran is the team's leading scorer with seven goals.
SBCC is 4-0 in conference and 11-0-3 on the season. The Vaqueros play second –place Santa Monica on Tuesday. Hancock opened conference play earlier this month with a 4-2 loss at home to Santa Barbara. The Bulldogs led 2-1 early in the second half until the Vaqueros took control of the game. Gomez and Cardona each scored once for the Bulldogs. Carlos Espinoza scored twice for the Vaqueros. Sophomore Victor Chavez is the team's leading scorer with 10 goals this season. Espinoza and Ameyawu Muntari have each scored five times.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO (1-3, 10-13)
This Week:
Wednesday, Oct. 25 vs. Santa Barbara *, 3 p.m. @ Paul Nelson Aquatic Center
Friday, Oct. 27 vs. Southwestern, 3 p.m. @ Santa Barbara HS
Saturday, Oct. 28 vs. Cerritos, 11:30 a.m. @ Santa Barbara HS
vs. L.A. Pierce, 4:30 p.m. @ San Marcos HS
The Hancock women's water polo team is coming off its bye week before playing four games in four day. The Bulldogs will start by hosting a conference showdown against first place Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Paul Nelson Aquatic Center. The game will begin a 3 p.m. Hancock will then compete in SBCC's Halloween Tournament on Friday and Saturday with three games.
The Bulldogs will face Southwestern on Friday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m., then on Saturday Hancock will battle Cerritos at 11:30 a.m. and L.A. Pierce at 4:30 p.m. The first two games will take place at Santa Barbara High School. The game against Pierce will take place at San Marcos High School.
Sophomore Shannon Copeland (Clarendon Girls School) is Hancock's leading scorer with 44 goals to go with 16 assists and 25 steals. Meagan Coyne (Righetti HS) ranks second with 40 goals, 28 assists and 30 steal. Freshman Maddison Stangl (Cabrillo HS) ranks third on the team with 30 goals, 20 assists and 22 swipes.
SBCC is 4-0 in league and 20-3 overall. Emma Fraser, a freshman, leads the team with 50 goals and 44 steals. Kemi Dijkstra ranks second with 35 goals, and Tory Bray has scored 33 times.
Southwestern is 0-12-1 on the season. Cerritos has won 10 and lost 10, while Pierce is 0-2. Last month, Hancock fell 8-4 to Cerritos at a tournament hosted by Riverside. The Bulldogs also defeated Southwestern 12-3 thanks to five goals from Ellyn Clardy (Righetti HS) and 17 saves by goalie Shay McMann (Righetti HS).
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (0-3, 0-9)
This Week:
Wednesday, Oct. 25 vs. Ventura *, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 vs. Moorpark *, 6 p.m.
The Hancock women's volleyball team returns home this week for two Western State Conference matches in search of its first win of the season. The Bulldogs are 0-3 in conference action and 0-9 overall. Hancock will host Ventura on Wednesday, October 25, before welcoming first place Moorpark on Friday. Both matches in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium start at 6 p.m.
Last week, Hancock fell 0-3 at Cuesta and 0-3 at Santa Barbara City College. The Vaqueros were ranked No. 6 in the state last week and are tabbed at No. 12 this week.
Moorpark is 4-0 in league and 9-5 overall. The Raiders are ranked No. 17 in the state this week. Outside hitter Miranda Poole leads the team with 215 kills and 41 blocks.
Ventura is 0-3 in league and 9-10 on the season. Sophomore Taylor Benitez-Fanslow leads the Pirates with 165 kills.