No better way to end Saturdays than with a win. And that’s exactly what the College of the Canyons Cougars did after the team recorded its first victory of the season over East Los Angeles College, 62-24.
“It’s exciting. There’s no question. This group has been through a lot and hasn’t been easy,” COC head coach Ted Iacenda said afterward. “Every week was a gauntlet. All six of our opponents were in the top 20. We played some really good football teams, and it was nice to come out today and these kids fought.”
Offensively, the Cougars looked the best they did all season. After the team dropped 21 points on East Los Angeles’ defense, the Cougars’ offense ended the first half with 41 points behind Braden Luedeker’s strong quarterback play.
Luedeker, who has played in six games prior to Saturday contest and only threw above 200 passing yards once, had recorded 244 yards through the air by the first half in the win over East Los Angeles.
Luedeker finished with 251 yards and four touchdowns, completing 10 for 15 pass attempts.
After the game, Iacenda spoke on his sophomore quarterback’s strong play and said that when he is playing well, the offense flourishes.
“He’s really making the most of his opportunity,” Iacenda said. “It’s exciting to watch him play. He can obviously make plays with his feet, with his arm, makes good decisions and its’s exciting to watch him play and watch our offense flourish.”
On the receiving end, Jaiden Dewesse led his position group with 131 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.
As for the Cougars’ rushing attack, COC was run-heavy in the second half, which led to 21 points in the third and fourth quarter combined, and the game’s three rushing touchdowns.
Elias Willis led with 98 rushing yards with his longest carry of the day being a 40-yard blast in the third quarter for a touchdown. Quarterback River Warren took a majority of snaps in the second half and scrambled for a touchdown of his own.
While the offense kept up the pressure, defensively, the Cougars had one of their best games all season.
Rohan Green and Teddy Knot both came away with interceptions while the defensive line recorded five sacks for 39 total yards.
The win was the Cougars’ first victory in conference play and much-needed win that snapped a six-game skid to start the season.
Although the team is 1-6, Iacenda believes his football team is much better than what their overall record indicates with six of the Cougars’ losses coming to top-ranked competition.
“I know it hasn’t shown it the win-loss column, but we’ve played some juggernauts,” he said. “And every week, we’ve gotten a lot better. We’ve made strides in certain areas in the game … these kids are growing up, and we’ve been very pleased with that.”
With three games left to go, the season is far from over for the Cougars.
Next week, the Cougars hit the road and will take State Route 14 up north for a matchup against Antelope Valley College on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
Although it hasn’t been the season that the Cougars want reflected on the win-loss column, Iacenda is reminding his team to keep the same mindset they’ve had all season and show up ready to work to get better.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. There’s no question,” Iacenda said. “This is a team that, for the last six weeks, has shown up every Monday ready to work. We’re a very blue-collar bunch. We are a humble bunch. I don’t think one [win] is going to get to our head. We’re going to come back Monday ready to get back to work.”
