What are the chances of a falcon wounding a warrior? In the animal kingdom chances are pretty slim however, that’s exactly what happened on Saturday, Oct. 10 on the gridiron.
Cerritos College had a 19-0 run over the last 18 minutes to win the “Battle of the Milk Can” against rival El Camino College.
For head coach Frank Mazzotta it means a lot more than the milk can itself.
“[John Featherstone] and I have known each other forever, we’ve coached against each other for 29 years. That milk can is a lot bigger deal than everybody thinks,” Mazzotta explained.
Following the game, Cerritos took the time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of El Camino’s head coach John Featherstone, as he will be retiring come season’s end.
The two teams have competed for the trophy for the last 53 years as Cerritos College still trails the rivalry 13-24-2, according to cerritosfalcons.com.
Mazzotta tried to capture the importance of the war over the milk can, however, no such moment could be put into words.
After the game concluded Mazzotta hugged Anthony Murray and said, “It’s special isn’t it? It doesn’t get much sweeter than this.”
Murray compiled a total of four tackles and added an interception.
He was among the few who had experienced the taste before, but wanted to relish in the moment one more time.
“It feels good to be part of a tradition that has been going on for so long. I was blessed to win it last year and this year,” Murray admitted. “It’s the last time I’m going to play for that thing so that’s something I’ll remember forever.”
Cerritos College will try and continue to ride that wave as it takes its 5-1 record on the road as it will travel nearly 200 miles north to battle 3-2 Allan Hancock.
The defense made stops when need be in the eyes of coach Mazzotta. It even forced a couple of turnovers in interceptions by both Murray and DJ Reed and a forced fumble by Dominique Leggett.
Although, the most important stops of the night came via the stop on fourth down with under a minute left as Alonzo Hansen got in the backfield for a game-sealing sack.
The front line didn’t have much push the entire night as El Camino quarterback Brent Boehm threw for almost 400 yards. However, the defense led by defensive tackle Raymond Price, tightened up when it mattered most.
“It all started after that first series, coach said we needed to make a play and I just took the challenge,” Price said.
Price ended the night with a game-high three and a half sacks.
For the second straight week, quarterback Jimmy Walker did not look like himself on the field. In spite of that, Walker did not throw an interception for the second straight game.
“Maybe it was me not focusing as much as I should’ve, being a little antsy,” Walker confessed.
More importantly, it was Walker who connected with wide receiver De’Jai Whitaker to finally score the go-ahead points and put Cerritos in the lead for the first time in the game.
“It was really gratifying because we battled all game to come back and win. I’m proud of these guys, these guys earned it,” Walker proclaimed.
Walker finished the night 14 of 24, throwing for 213 yards, and two touchdowns.
Late in the game Cerritos was forced to pass the ball a bit more because of the deficit however, throughout the duration of the game it was the feet of Kishawn Holmes that kept the team in it.
“Tonight when the pass game wasn’t going so well, the run game kind of picked us up. The offensive line really [expletive] played their ass off,” Walker stated. “In the beginning I was really making too many plays, but like I said when I’m down they pick me up and when they’re down I pick them up.”
Holmes carried the ball a total of 30 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Holmes has now scored four times in the last three games.
“I was just running, trusting in my line and I just ran. Ran for my life, it felt like I was in eight games at one time,” Holmes said with a glaring smile. “I’m just working as hard as I can and God willing I’m inside the end zone.”
Holmes wasn’t the only Falcon runner to find the end zone as Robert Gordon found the end zone twice as well on the night.
