Rout Proves a Cure for El Camino Blues : Warriors Scalp Southwestern, 41-14

Remedies come in tablet form, caplets and easy-to-swallow doses, but according to El Camino College Coach John Featherstone, nothing cures the blues like an old-fashioned rout.

Lately, the Warriors had provided Featherstone with little more than a headache--losing one game and tying another--but Saturday night the pain subsided somewhat, courtesy of El Camino’s 41-14 victory over visiting Southwestern at Murdock Stadium in a Mission Conference game.

“We’ve tried to stay real positive, and I don’t think last week’s tie was real indicative of what our team can do,” said Featherstone, whose team improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play. El Camino opens up divisional play at Pasadena next Saturday.

As recently as two weeks ago, the Warriors were rated the No. 2 junior college team in the State, but after a loss to Fullerton and a tie with Golden West, El Camino dropped out of the top 20. Saturday night, the Warriors got back on the winning track, dropping the Apaches to 1-4 in the process.

El Camino got on the board with time running out in the first quarter when quarterback Frank Dolce hit Brett Austin with a 7-yard scoring pass. Dominic Cefalone’s extra point made it 7-0.

Following a face-mask penalty that brought the ball to the Southwestern 24-yard line, Neil Tuihalamaka took the handoff and bounced off three tacklers into the end zone.

With one second left in the half, Tuihalamaka scored again from 1 yard out to give El Camino a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Warriors led 27-0 early in the third quarter when quarterback Scott Yessner, who replaced Dolce in the first quarter, hooked up with Richard Harrison on a 3-yard touchdown pass.

Southwestern finally got on the board with 2:21 left in the third quarter when Tracy Williams dove into the end zone from 1 yard out on a fourth-and-goal situation.

On the kickoff, Aaron Craver returned the ball 45 yards to the Apache 30. Three plays later, Harrison scored and Cefalone’s kick made the score 34-8.

The Apaches cut the lead to 34-14 with 12:54 left in the game when quarterback Anthony Rivera found Gary Charlton for a 3-yard score.