The circumstances were different, but the end result for the 2024 Pasadena City College football team was the same as its predecessor 50 years earlier. The Lancers completed an undefeated regular season at 10-0 (one forfeit) by routing Los Angeles Valley, 46-6, Saturday evening at Robinson Stadium.
It was the first perfect regular season since the 1974 Lancers performed the feat. While the '74 team played in an open field of teams throughout the state, this year's team was limited to facing teams from the SCFA American Division, a tier of 12 colleges.
The Lancers superior roster of talent recruited by Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker dominated the competition resulting in outscoring their five Pacific League opponents, 170-39. None of the final three opponents scored an offensive touchdown (just one scored on a fumble recovery v. the PCC offense by LA Southwest) and only three TDs were scored on the PCC defense in conference play. The team hasn't allowed a TD in the last 11 quarters played.
Winning back-to-back, undefeated Pacific League titles (both at 5-0), the Lancers will host the American Championship Bowl v. Chaffey, the co-champions of the Metro League on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kickoff is expected to be 6 p.m., but the official announcements will come from the 3C2A next week. Chaffey (8-2 overall) beat co-champ Victor Valley, 44-27, on Saturday to create the bowl matchup.
Last year, PCC finished 9-2, losing both of its games v. then American Bowl champion Chaffey. But this year, the Lancers have already beaten the Panthers, 21-19, in week #5 in a non-league contest. Pasadena has yet to capture the American championship, but has a sparkling 33-9 record since Tucker took over the program in 2021.
Against LA Valley, PCC quarterback Sitani Suguturaga connected for touchdown passes of 10 and 61 yards to receiver Maddux Mateski, who made spectacular catches on both plays. Flip Fox became the second Lancer this year to return a kickoff 100 yards for a TD while red-hot kicker Ozlo Rigby drove home field goals of 24, 40, and 45 yards--all in the final 4:30 of the second quarter.
PCC pounded the ball on the ground 53 times for 238 yards, producing touchdowns of 7 yards by Mohammad Maali in the second quarter and another 7-yard jaunt by Jon Bautista late in the third quarter.
Maali carried 22 times for 111 yards and Mateski pulled in four catches for 117 yards. Suguturaga completed 8-for-16 passing for 119 yards. Fox finished with 172 yards in three kick returns.
The defense put on another clinic with an interception, pass break-up and four tackles by Kyden Bailey and 17 team tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including sacks by Coleman Morning (seven tackles), Julius Ray, Emmanuel Okelola, and Dylan Frank. Jachai Pulley totaled seven tackles.
For LA Valley (4-6, 2-3), quarterback Ahmias Hart, who played in four games last year at PCC as a reserve, completed 6-for-13 passes, including a 61-yard pitch pass to Noah Frenkel, and netted 17 yards rushing. Tierre Butler made a game-high 15 tackles and forced a fumble.
PCC celebrated its 41 sophomores in a ceremony prior to the contest.
