FOOTBALL FALLS TO L.A. SOUTHWEST IN OVERTIME, 16-13

INGLEWOOD—L.A. Southwest College placekicker Robert Munoz booted a 25-yard field goal in the final seconds of regulation, then connected on a 32-yarder in overtime to give the host Cougars a 16-13 win over the Allan Hancock College football team on Saturday.

Hancock (3-3, 1-2 WSC North) had its chances in the defensive struggle, but couldn't come up with the big play when it counted. The Bulldogs suffered four turnovers, committed seven penalties and wasted a potential scoring opportunity in the closing seconds of the first half when quarterback Blake Sartini grounded the ball to stop the clock on fourth and one at the LASC 28.

Despite a lackluster offensive performance, the Bulldogs managed to take a 13-10 lead with 6:50 remaining when Sartini connected with wide-receiver Danny Bugg for a 41-yard touchdown pass, AHC's lone six-pointer of the day. But after the Hancock defense stepped up with a three-and-out on the Cougars' ensuing possession, AHC failed to make a first down and was forced to punt at the four-minute mark. Southwest quarterback David Navarro then engineered an eight-play 64-yard drive that ended with Munoz' game-tying field goal with six seconds remaining.

Freshman placekicker Victor Velasco made first-half field goals of 42 and 45 yards to account for the Bulldog scoring until Sartini's late TD pass to Bugg. However, his 40-yard attempt on fourth and eight in the overtime session fell short, giving Southwest an opportunity to close out the game with a field goal on its first extra-period possession.

Rushed hard by an aggressive Cougar front all day, Sartini managed to comple 13-of-28 passes for 178 yards, but was intercepted twice. The usually productive AHC rushing attack was limited to 111 yards, headed by Drew Williams' hard-earned 33 yards on 20 bruising carries. Hancock finished with 13 first downs to LASC's 10.

The Bulldogs continue their Western State Conference schedule in the 2004 AHC Homecoming game next Saturday at Righetti High School's Warrior Stadium, beginning at 7 p.m.