SJCC Beats Hartnell for 8th Win of the Season

The Jaguars made history with their victory over Hartnell College, scoring their eighth win, the most victories in any San José City College football season since at least 1995. The 19-7 win over the Panthers brought the Jags to an 8-2 record.     

Unfortunately, a close loss against Monterey Peninsula College (8-2) last week left the CCCAA American-Golden Coast Conference championship just out of reach, leaving them in second place. Still, the Jaguars have much to be proud of this season, with many of their standout players leading the conference in touchdowns, running, and passing yards.   

The game at Jaguar Stadium against the Panthers, with a boisterous crowd of 650 fans, was a defensive stand-off, with neither team allowing any points in the first quarter.   

The Jaguars struck first in the second quarter when QB Trent Cousens connected with Anthony Jones for a 28-yard touchdown pass. However, Matt Mirton missed the extra point, leaving SJCC with a 6-0 lead.  

A few minutes later, Cousens found Zion Owens for a 46-yard touchdown pass, extending SJCC's lead to 13-0 after Owen Lagos successfully converted the extra point.  

Hartnell responded with a touchdown when Adam Shaffer connected with Cade Smith for a 60-yard pass. Abraham Maciel's extra point was good, making the score 13-7.  

Cousens and Jones connected again in the fourth quarter, this time for a 32-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt by Cousens failed, but SJCC extended their lead to 19-7, winning the game.  

SJCC had the upper hand in first downs, with 17 compared to Hartnell's 8. SJCC also had a higher third-down efficiency, converting 21 percent of their attempts compared to Hartnell's 19 percent.    

In terms of total offense, SJCC outperformed Hartnell with 440 yards compared to Hartnell's 209 yards. SJCC's passing game was solid, with Trent Cousens throwing for 237 yards and three touchdowns.  

Hartnell's Adam Shaffer performed well, throwing for 86 yards and one touchdown. However, he also threw one interception. Nathan Ortiz and Spencer Gorgulho also attempted passes for Hartnell but were unsuccessful.  

On the rushing front, Hartnell's Adam Shaffer led the team with 78 yards on 17 attempts. Jhymir Pearson also contributed 42 yards on 14 carries. SJCC's Jesse R. Lajes led the team with 139 rushing yards on 28 attempts.  

Regarding receiving, Cade Smith was the standout player for Hartnell, with one catch for 60 yards and a touchdown. Anthony Jones was the leading receiver for SJCC, with six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns.  

Defensively, both teams had some standout players. Hartnell's Kasey Mena led the team with nine tackles, including two sacks and three for loss. Cade Smith and Cristian Zavala each had one interception for Hartnell.  

For SJCC, Gavin Macock led the team with nine tackles, including half a sack and half a tackle for loss. Coley Smith had one interception, while Keshawn Noriega and Ravon Johnson each had half a sack.  

Overall, the game between Hartnell and SJCC was an exciting matchup. SJCC's potent passing game and solid defense ultimately led them to victory. Both teams showed great determination and skill throughout the game, making it an entertaining contest for the spectators.  

Unfortunately, this was the last game of the season for this squad of Jaguars as the league penalized SJCC for recruiting violations last spring and made the team ineligible for a bowl game. But the sophomores move on knowing they were part of the winningest team SJCC has fielded in nearly 30 years.  

That says a lot about their grit, dedication, and tenacity, which could place the program at a turning point. The Jags were 5-5 in 2022 and 8-2 in 2023, records next year's team can build on.