Santa Monica College Corsairs win first game of the 2023-2024 season
Santa Monica College Corsairs during the opening game against Victor Valley College Rams on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won with a final score of 31-28. (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)
On September 1, a pleasantly overcast Saturday evening, the SMC Corsairs beat the Victor Valley Rams at home in a nailbiter, with a final score of 31-28 in their opening game of the year. Returning from a weak 2-8 season, the Corsairs were determined to shake off last year’s losing streak to bolster a promising start to the year.
Victor Valley took an early lead, running back the initial kickoff for an 85-yard touchdown by Rodney Harris. The Corsairs answered right back with a two-play drive, culminating with a 69-yard connection between quarterback Michael Cruz and wide receiver Myles Parker.
By halftime, the score was tied at 14-14, with Rams quarterback Miguel Larlos throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass early in the first. At the end of the second, with three and a half minutes left Cruz hit Parker once again for a 25-yard conversion to even the score.
Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs Steven Johnson, Ayden Martinez, and Nehemiah Means during halftime at the opening game against Victor Valley College Rams on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Santa Monica, Calif. The teams were tied at the half 14-14. The Corsairs won the game with a final score of 31-28. (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)
The third ended up being the most exciting quarter. Joey Acclardo of the Corsairs started it off with an 80-yard conversion, getting the crowd into the game and gaining a lot of momentum. The Rams answered back with running back Teshawn Cleveland converting on a three-yard rush. With three minutes left in the quarter, Corsairs kicker John Corum scored the last points of the quarter with a 32-yard field goal to put his team up three points above the Rams.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, one yard away from the end zone, the Rams went back to Cleveland once again and were rewarded with another touchdown, putting them up four points. But on the very next possession, quarterback Cruz ran the ball twelve yards for a touchdown, putting the Corsairs up four and ultimately winning the game.
