CORSAIR FIELD — The 2011 football season began with gusto for the Santa Monica College Corsairs during a 24-0 home win over Compton on Saturday.
The victory was a promising sign for the Corsairs as they try to improve on last season’s 4-6 record. The game was dominated by SMC as they knocked off Compton for a second-straight year.
The Compton Tartars were outplayed on both sides, unable to move the ball offensively giving up three turnovers, setting up a number of SMC scores.
“We wanted to establish our running game early and control the ball offensively,” said Gifford Lindheim, SMC’s head coach. “We know our passing game will come, but we just wanted to put the pressure on them to stop the run.”
The Corsairs were able to go down field and score with ease on a 6-yard run by freshman running back Myles Johnson early in the first quarter. That wouldn't be the only time that Johnson reached the end zone. He would also score on a 20-yard reception at the end of the first half thrown by fellow freshman quarterback Alfonso Medina.
“I settled in and was very comfortable in the offense today,” Medina said. “I have been in this offense for a while so it just came natural to me.”
The Corsairs continued their dominance in the second half as they were able to go down field and score on their opening drive, capitalizing off of an interception which led to a Corsair field goal.
SMC put the nail in the coffin with an 8-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Daniel Pipkin later in the half.
The Corsair offense seemed to be rolling on all cylinders against a fatigued and less fit Tartar defense.
“Depth is our main concern,” Head Coach Sean Fernandes said of Compton’s early-season woes. “Our defense was on the field most of the first half and it showed in the rest of the game.”
Contributing to the Corsairs’ ground attack was sophomore running back Alonzo Frederick, who led the team in rushing with 72 yards on 16 carries. Medina would finish the game with one touchdown and 105 yards passing, going 12 for 17.
The Corsairs next game is at East Los Angeles College on Saturday at 6 p.m..
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