Late Rally Falls Short, Hancock Loses Season Opener 28-26 at Santa Ana

A late push in the fourth quarter by the Bulldogs fell short as the Allan Hancock College football team opened the 2014 season with a 28-26 loss at Santa Ana on Saturday. The Bulldogs trailed 28-13 early in the fourth quarter and scored the final 13 points of the game. Hancock dropped to 0-1, while Santa Ana improved to 1-0 after the first-ever meeting between the two long-standing programs. 

Santa Ana took a 28-13 advantage when quarterback Shane Truelove capped a 13-play, 99-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Malik Richards with 13:47 to go in the game. The Bulldogs rallied with two late touchdowns, but their comeback fell just short. 

Hancock freshman quarterback Curry Parham connected with Tristen Jeffries for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 8:52 to play. However, a two-point conversion try failed as Sean McComas was stopped before the goal line to keep it a 28-19 Santa Ana lead. The Bulldogs cut into the deficit thanks to a 79-yard interception return by Jonathon General to make it a 28-26 game with 4:23 to go.

Parham, playing his first collegiate game, finished with 214 passing yards after he connected on 19 of his 37 passing attempts. The St. Joseph High School graduate threw for two touchdowns, both to Jeffries, and two interceptions.

Jeffries led all receivers with seven catches for 101 yards. Ryan Mediano, a sophomore tight end and St. Joseph High School graduate, caught four passes for 45 yards. Lavelle Griffin also had three receptions for 21 yards.

Freshman Lauina Futi led the Hancock rushing attack with 65 yards on 10 carries, including a 43-yard gain. DeSean Dillard added 29 yards on 10 carries.  Both running backs lost one fumble apiece.

Hancock freshman kicker Jose Morales converted a 28-yard field goal with 2:46 to go in the first quarter to give Hancock a 3-0 lead. Curry Parham connected with Tristen Jeffries on a 28-yard strike to stake Hancock to a 10-0 advantage with 14:52 to play in the first half. The host Dons responded on their next possession as Truelove hit Hayden Dunn with a 15-yard touchdown strike to make it 10-7 Hancock with 12:11 to play.

The Bulldogs led by three late in the half until Futi lost possession of the ball and Santa Ana's Jeremy Maxwell returned the fumble 55-yards to give the Dons a 14-10 lead into half time. They scored nearly five minutes into the second half on a 20-yard pass from Truelove to Nathaniel Nicholson to take a 21-10 advantage.

Morales, a Lompoc High School graduate, stopped Santa Ana's 21-0 scoring run with a 25-yard field goal.

Hancock's defensive star was sophomore Willie Iribarren. The Lompoc High School graduate recorded 19 tackles, including eight solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. The linebacker also recovered a fumble.  Deonte Barnes, an Atascadero High School graduate, added seven tackles, while Isaiah Hill had two sacks for the Bulldogs.

Hancock had 16 first downs in the game to Santa Ana's 17. The Bulldogs outgained Santa Ana through the air (214-169) and on the ground (125-86). However, the Bulldogs had four turnovers to Santa Ana's two.