Fresh off a bye week and midway through the 2015 season, California’s 21st ranked Contra Costa College football team faced a Yuba College (3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Pac 7) team looking to avenge last year’s loss.
Saturday was a close game and CCC (6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pac 7 Conference) trailed in the fourth quarter, but got the game-winning late scoring drive and won, 16-13.
The Comets finished off the 49ers with their longest drive of the game, going 10 plays for 87 yards featuring the second touchdown connection of the game between wide receiver Malcolm Hale and quarterback Cameron Burston.
“We started off good offensively. We got on the scoreboard early and put drives together, but couldn’t finish,” Burston said. “I didn’t really get into a groove until the end but my team helped me keep a level head and pushed me to finish strong.”
Burston finished 13-25 for 157 yards and two TDs, losing one fumble and said overall it was a well-fought game.
The Comets return to action this Saturday to battle the College of the Redwoods at Comet Stadium at 1 p.m.
“I was a little concerned coming off the bye week, especially heading into a road game since road games are always tough,” Comet coach Alonzo Carter said.
Carter said the team had two great goal-line stands — holding Yuba from scoring twice from the 1-yard line and blocking two 49- yard field goal attempts.
According to the California Community College Association website, Yuba College entered the game ranked 56th overall in yards-per-game at 309.4
CCC is ranked third overall in passing yards per attempt with 9.9 yards per throw.
Yuba prepared to have its hands full with CCC’s thriving passing game.
“We weren’t in rhythm the entire game on offense but our players on defense came through,” Carter said.
Linebacker Ted Noble, along with defensive back and Jackson Finch all played solid games, Carter said, as Finch had one interception and the group held Yuba to less than 100 yards passing.
The offensive and defensive lines of CCC were off of their games on Saturday allowing Yuba to rush for 254 yards, compared with 147 yards on a 3.3 average gain per rush for the Comets.
Running back Harris Ross, led the team in rushing with 54 yards on 10 carries, but could not get anything going after suffering an ankle sprain.
At halftime the Comets led 10-6.
Yuba running back Austin Thompson, rushed for his second TD on a 31-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
CCC was in an unfamiliar position, down 13-10 with under three minutes left to play in the crucial Pac 7 game. That’s when they went on their 10-play, 87-yard drive.
Burston was sacked seven times, but the Comet defense kept Yuba quarterback Jackson Hopking in check. He finished the game 5-20 for 49 yards, zero TDs and one interception.
The entire offense could not get anything going until the very end, when it mattered most, and the defense did enough to keep their winning streak alive.
During preseason workouts many people, including Comet Athletic Director John Wade, said it would be a long shot for the Comets to continue their dominance because of all the turnover the team was experiencing at several key positions.
Now CCC is setting all kinds of school records while boasting unique up-tempo schemes from Carter and the rest of the coaching staff — Jeffery Anderson and DeAndre Green.
Carter said his coaching staff helped a lot, especially in that last drive on Saturday with the entire offense struggling.
The coaches have adapted and dating back to CCC’s 50-21 defeat to West Hills College-Coalinga back on Sept. 13, 2014, the Comets have won 15 consecutive games including 12 straight road wins.
In fact, their last regular season road loss was in September 2013, versus Hartnell College, losing by a field goal 37-34.
“Our winning streak can be credited to all of our coaches,” defensive back Billy-Nicoe Hurst said. “They make sure we are mentally and physically prepared every week.”
Burston agreed and said the team’s focus during all four quarters of every game this season is because of all the hard work and dedication on and off the field before game days.