One blocked field goal and a missed 37-yard field goal by kicker Nick Arellano crushed the Cerritos College football team as it fell to host Chaffey College, 16-9, last Saturday Night.

“We have five kickers and none of them can kick the ball,” head coach Frank Mazzotta said.

The loss sends the Falcons to 3-2 overall and will have a week off before playing its Homecoming game against Citrus College on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos College.

With just seconds left the Falcons had a field goal blocked that would have won the game, instead it went to overtime tied, 9-9.

On its first possession of overtime, the Panthers scored and the Falcons were unable to respond.

“We were caught off guard playing overtime against Chaffey,” linebacker Junior Tivao said.  “We were never thinking of overtime against that team.”

On the positive the Falcons’ defense held the Panthers to nine points trough regulation and the offense had 363-yards.

“We played well enough to win but we put it in the hands of the special teams, guys that only practice 15 minutes a day. We can not do that.” Tivoa said.

The Panthers came out hitting hard and sometimes late.

“They were playing with a lot emotion, but that is the way everyone plays Cerritos,” Tivao said.  “The program has a great reputation and everyone is gunning to beat us.”

Quarterback Jeffery Fisher led the offensive attack with 178 yards passing and 63 yards rushing.

Defensive linebacker David Flores led the Falcons with 13 tackles while fellow linebacker Matthew Moody contributed with a sack.

The loss sends the Falcons to 3-2 overall and will have a week off before facing Citrus College on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos College.

The game was the opener in the newly formed National Division, Central Conference.

“Losing the opening game is tough because we can only lose one more game and still be eligible for the playoffs,” Tivao said.