Late Touchdown Sinks Hancock Football 21-17 at Pasadena

Pasadena City College scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:38 to play to hand the Allan Hancock College football team a 21-17 loss on Saturday in Pasadena. Hancock dropped to 0-3 on the season. Pasadena improved to 1-2.

The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 to start the second half. Hancock inched closer when kicker Nick Kimball drilled a 37-yard field goal with 3:20 to play in the third quarter. It remained a four-point game into the fourth quarter when the Bulldog defense answered the call. Sophomore cornerback Malik Pope intercepted a pass from Hanckel and returned it 49 yards to the Pasadena three-yard line. However, a personal foul on the Bulldogs during the play forced Hancock to start the drive at the Pasadena 40-yard line. Following a 13-yard gain off a Matt Albright pass to Kevin Stark, the Bulldogs cashed in the turnover for seven points when Jajuan Lankford scored on a four-yard run to give Hancock its first lead of the game, 21-17, with 12:45 to play in the game.

The Bulldogs missed an opportunity to add to its lead when Kimball missed a 28-yard field goal attempt with 3:41 to play and Hancock ahead 17-14. Pasadena regained possession and drove 80 yards on five plays capped by a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jesse Hanckel to Yusef Muhammad to regain the lead for good 21-17. Hancock could not respond on the ensuing drive, and Pasadena ran out the clock to seal the win.

Pasadena opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass from Hanckel to Ty'rant Davis with 5:42 to play in the first quarter. The Bulldogs tied it 7-7 when Albright connected with Chris Barganier for a 44-yard touchdown strike less than 90 seconds later. The game remained tied until the Lancers' Hanckel hit Jacob Fimbres for a seven-yard touchdown with less than five minutes to play in the first half.

The Bulldogs finished with 349 yards of total offense. Pasadena compiled 281. The Hancock defense held Pasadena to -8 yards rushing in the game, but allowed 289 yards through the air. Hancock held the edge in time of possession 33:43 to 26:17.

Albright completed 14 of his 37 passes for a career-high 190 yards passing and one touchdown. Barganier caught three passes for 92 yards and one score. Alex Cecchi caught five passes for 49 yards. Stark had three catches for 28 yards, and Kimball hauled in two passes for 20 yards.

Lankford led the Hancock ground attack with 68 yards on 17 carries. Tony Saintmelus rushed for 37 yards and 14 carries. Running back Shaq Autry, who started the season opener, missed his second straight game with an injury.

Pope led the Hancock defense with eight tackles, including five solo stops. He had one pick and two pass breakups. Thomas Leggett, Xavier Dooley, Bryce VomBaur, Mosese Fifita and Lenny Roundtree, Jr. had four stops each. Dooley also forced a fumble. Osa Omokaro recorded two sacks for Hancock.

Hanckel completed 27 of his 54 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. The Pasadena quarterback threw one interception.

The Bulldogs will look to get back on track when they return home to host Santa Ana at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 24, at Hancock Football Field.  Santa Ana fell 27-19 at Victor Valley this week to fall to 0-3.