Palomar Dominates Grossmont 44-3, Heads Into Bye Week with Momentum
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar (2-3) | 14 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 44 |
|
Grossmont (1-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
EL CAJON, CA (10/5/2024) -- Palomar College bounced back in a big way on Saturday, cruising to a commanding 44-3 victory over Grossmont College on the road. The Comets, now 2-3, were in control from the opening drive and delivered their most complete performance of the season, both offensively and defensively.
The Comets wasted no time getting on the board, with Chris Bausch capping an 8-play, 74-yard opening drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Palomar continued their offensive rhythm, adding a 24-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Tapley to Jake Whitehead late in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.
Palomar extended their lead in the second quarter with two more touchdowns. Christian Hall punched in a 3-yard run after a lightning-fast 95-yard drive, and Tapley added a 6-yard rushing touchdown of his own. A missed extra point left Palomar up 27-0 at halftime.
The second half saw more of the same, with Christian Hall breaking free for a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before adding a 2-yard score later in the period to push the lead to 41-0. Grossmont's only points came early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of a 41-yard field goal by Camden Vance. Palomar answered with a 22-yard field goal from Jonathon "Jack" Meyer to seal the 44-3 win.
Palomar's offense racked up an impressive 559 total yards, with 264 yards on the ground. Bausch led the way with 130 rushing yards on just 7 carries, while Hall contributed 53 yards and three touchdowns. Tapley threw for 295 yards, connecting with Whitehead 10 times for 133 yards and a touchdown.
The Comet defense was equally dominant, holding Grossmont to just 156 total yards and one third-down conversion. Tucker Murphy grabbed an interception, while Kavyion Hicks, Jaiden Letua, and Steven Arteaga anchored a defensive front that recorded four sacks. Arteaga led the team with eight total tackles, including four solo stops.
Palomar heads into the bye week on a high note and will begin preparations to take on Saddleback College on October 19 at 6 p.m. The Comets will look to carry their momentum into the second half of the season after their impressive road win.