Despite Fourth Quarter Rally, No. 12 Hancock Drops 31-28 Conference Game to No. 7 Cerritos

After mounting a 15-point rally in the fourth quarter to take its first lead of the game, the Allan Hancock College football team dropped a conference game 31-28 to Cerritos on Saturday in Santa Maria. The No. 12 Bulldogs lost their second straight game by a three-point margin and fell to 1-1 in conference and 3-3 overall. The No. 7 Falcons improved to 3-0 in conference and 6-1 overall.

The Bulldogs trailed Cerritos 24-13 to start the fourth quarter when they strung together a six-play, 55-yard drive that finished on an eight-yard touchdown run by Bakari Davis. Hancock was successful on the two-point conversion to climb to within 24-21 with 12:11 to play in the game. After the Bulldog defense forced a Cerritos punt, Elijah Holt returned a punt 86 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to put Hancock ahead 28-24 with 11:21 to go in the game. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate started right after fielding the kick at the 14-yard line and reversed his course a few more times before diving into the endzone with his second punt return for a touchdown of the season. The sophomore also forced and recovered a fumble, as well as intercepted a pass and deflected four passes on defense.

Cerritos responded to Holt's touchdown with a seven-play, 92-yard drive to take the lead for good. Jimmy Walker connected with De'Jai Whitaker for a 37-yard touchdown with 8:51 to play that proved to be the difference at 31-28. Whitaker caught six passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He sprinted for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the game from scrimmage that gave Cerritos the early 7-0 lead. Walker, Cerritos' sophomore quarterback, completed 17 of his 44 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He was picked off twice by Hancock, once by Holt and once by Dy'Kari Hickey.

The Bulldogs had the ball with five minutes to go in the game and drove to the Cerritos 29 yard line, but a deep ball from quarterback Curry Parham to his receiver on fourth down fell incomplete. Cerritos ran out the clock to seal the win.

Sophomore kicker Jose Morales converted two field goals in the first quarter, a 30-yard field goal and a 36-yard field goal to put Hancock on the scoreboard. Whitaker hauled in a 24-yard touchdown strike from Walker with 4:31 to play in the first half to give Cerritos a 21-6 lead at the break. Hancock drove to the Cerritos three-yard line in the closing seconds of the first half and went for the score on fourth down, but was stopped by the Falcon defense.

The Bulldogs scored on the opening drive of the second half as Hickey scored on a five-yard run to make it a 21-13 game with 12:00 to play in the third quarter. The Bulldog defense forced a punt, but Hancock's special teams muffed the punt to give Cerritos the ball back deep inside Hancock territory. Adrian Saldana converted a 21-yard field goal to give Cerritos a 24-13 advantage.

Hancock finished with 351 yards of total offense while Cerritos had 374.

Parham finished seven for 18 for 80 yards and one interception. He also rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries. Chris Barganier, a St. Joseph High School graduate, had three catches for 40 yards to lead Hancock.

Hancock was forced to play without star running back and kick returner Malik Williams, the state's leader in all-purpose yards per game. Hickey stepped in to lead the Bulldog ground game with 78 yards on 13 carries and one score. Justin Banks added 59 yards on 11 carries, while Jericho Worrell added 41 rushing yards on 10 carries. Overall, Hancock finished with 271 rushing yards. The Hancock defense held Cerritos to just 44 rushing yards.

Defensively, Rafael Arellano led the Bulldogs with seven tackles, all in the first half. The sophomore and Lompoc High School graduate injured his shoulder late in the first half and did not return. Freshman linebacker Greg Artis-Payne had six tackles and one quarterback hurry.  DaMarion King had five tackles, including two for loss, while Kevon Perry had five tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back at home next Saturday, Oct. 24, when College of the Canyons visits Hancock Football Field. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m.