Pete Moye’
Sports Button

In a rematch of last season’s opener, Los Angeles Harbor College freshman quarterback Chris Smith and sophomore running back Theron West ran for over 280 yards and four touchdowns as the Seahawks defeated the Cerritos College football team 28-23 on Saturday.

After not scoring on the first drive of the game, Cerritos College starting quarterback Brandon Denker threw a 47-yard touchdown to freshman receiver Robert Abeyta in the first quarter.

Later that half, Denker was replaced by sophomore quarterback Morgan Fennell who threw for 58 yards in the game.

Denker ended with 84 yards and two passing touchdowns.

While Denker played the beginning of the second half, he was replaced in the fourth quarter for the remainder of the game by Fennell.

The Falcons, who haven’t lost a season opener since 2006, gave up four sacks and one interception in the game.

Sophomore linebacker Keyshawn Malone kept the Falcons in the game with under five minutes by intercepting a pass thrown by LA Harbor’s Smith, but in the final minute of the game, Fennell threw a interception to an LA Harbor defensive back that was returned to Harbor territory.

In the biggest win under LA Harbor Head Coach Brett Peabody, the Seahwaks were ranked under Cerritos in all, but one preseason ranking.

“This is a great victory for us,” he said, “Cerritos was one game short of playing for the Southern California Championship last year and have been one of the top teams in California and the country for the last four years.”

“I thought we played a little bit better than the score had indicated, but we took care of a great football team in,” he said.

Peabody also said that he felt that last season LA Harbor did not capitalize like they should have and because of LA Harbor’s three missed field goals, Cerritos was still in it in the end.

One of the two leaders in yards for LA Harbor was Smith, who rushed for 130 yards off 20 carries, with two touchdowns.

“We came out confident. We knew we had to bang them in the mouth, not just the first play of the game, but throughout,”smith said.

The Falcons will face Palomar College in their home opener at Falcon Stadium on Saturday. Last season, Cerritos defeated Palomar 34-17.