On Saturday, Oct. 24, Santa Monica College’s football team faced off against the West Los Angeles Wildcats in their homecoming game, which also happened to be sophomore night. The win was important for the Corsairs because it shaped what their playoff run would look like.
“If we win today and next week I'm pretty sure we host a first round playoff game. So our guys are fired up,” SMC head coach Kelly Ledwith said.
Before the game, Santa Monica’s athletic department hosted a student-athlete mixer and invited all student-athletes to attend, eat food and play games. People played basketball, dodgeball, ping pong and more. Food and drinks were provided as well.
Ahead of kickoff, the Corsairs recognized their sophomore players. Each sophomore had their name and number announced, and they walked through a tunnel with their freshman teammates.
Ledwith mentioned the team's struggles in their back-to-back losses before this week. “We didn't play the same style of football that we had played earlier in the year,” Ledwith said.
Both losses were road games, meaning SMC still held its title of being undefeated at home. The Corsairs aimed to clean up mistakes and outplay their opponents ahead of the game.
“Too many mistakes and you just didn't see the consistent out-running and out-hitting of the other guys,” Ledwith said, “And that's what we're looking to get back to today.”
The Corsairs received the opening kickoff. During their first drive, quarterback Pierce Clarkson was unable to connect with his receivers. After three incomplete passes, including missed opportunities to connect with running back Dylan Franklin and receiver Braydon Sanford, SMC kicker Jack Malloy kicked a field goal to put the first points on the board.
Ahead of the game, Ledwith was sure there would be clean play between the teams. “I think you'll get the intensity but it'll be between the whistles. I don't think you'll see any unsportmanlikes or anything,” he said.
Ledwith’s prediction did not hold true. Throughout the game, both teams were verbally taunting each other and physically getting into each other's faces. West LA racked up three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and Santa Monica had its share of personal fouls, including a few unnecessary roughness calls.
The Corsairs continued to find Franklin on the ground, with his repeated runs helping SMC advance down the field. A pass interference penalty by the Wildcats’ defense set up Clarkson and the Corsairs on the 5-yard line. Clarkson threw to wide receiver Lamont White for a 5-yard touchdown.
SMC and White’s first touchdown of the game brought the score to 10-0 with 9 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first quarter.
White led the Corsairs in receiving yards with six catches for 130 yards. When talking about the feeling of scoring a touchdown, White felt a strong sense of joy that reminded him of childhood.. “It feels like a little kid again, you feel young again like you're playing ball in the backyard.”
White ended the game with three touchdowns, matching Franklin, who also scored three.
Franklin led the team in rushing yards with 203 yards. JUCO All-American and SMC football alum Carson Cox came back to cheer on his old teammates. “D-Frank, he's a beast. I love that kid since he came out of high school,” he said. “I always thought he was a dog and it's cool to see how good he's doing this year too.”
The Wildcats’ first touchdown came after a miscommunication between two of the Corsairs’ defenders. Reading the pass early, both defenders jumped to intercept the ball but collided. The ball bounced up into the hands of Wildcats receiver Andrew Washington who caught it and ran 73 yards for a touchdown.
With 11 seconds left in the half, SMC looked to add an additional six points to their already 23-point lead. Clarkson threw to White for a last second touchdown. After Jack Malloy’s successful extra-point kick, the Corsairs led 30-6 at halftime.
In the second half, Clarkson didn’t stray from the passing game. He found and connected with his receivers, including throwing another touchdown pass to White at the end of the third quarter.
West LA wasn't able to stop Franklin from running the ball. The last points of the game came from Franklin leading the Corsairs down the field. Seven out of eight plays went to Franklin on rushing attempts, as he took the team from its own 40-yard line to the Wildcats’ endzone.
The final score was 51-18, with the Corsairs on top.
The Corsairs will face off against the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines on Nov. 7 in their last regular-season matchup.