Palomar Stuns No. 13 El Camino with Second-Half Defensive Masterclass

TORRANCE, CA (9/14/2024) -- Palomar College pulled off an upset on Saturday night, defeating No. 13 El Camino College 14-10 on the road behind a dominant second-half defensive performance. The Comets shut out the Warriors in the second half and held firm when it mattered most, making several key plays to secure the victory.

The game started with a spark for Palomar when Mason Thomas returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Comets an early 7-0 lead. El Camino responded with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Azeon Nelson and a 32-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead. However, Palomar struck quickly late in the second quarter, with KJ Chatham connecting on a 66-yard touchdown pass to Skai Donnell to reclaim a 14-10 advantage.

From that point on, it was all about the Comet defense. El Camino turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter, giving Palomar possession, but the Warriors' offense continued to struggle. The Comet defense held them to two consecutive three-and-outs, stifling their momentum.

With time running out, El Camino's offense mounted one last drive, but Davion Green delivered a crucial interception at the Palomar 41-yard line, stopping the Warriors with just over two minutes remaining. Though the Comets went three-and-out on their ensuing possession, Camden Cowgill's 27-yard punt left the Warriors deep in their own territory with little time to work.

On El Camino's final drive, the Comet defense rose to the occasion once more. Facing a fourth down, the Warriors tried to extend their drive, but Steven Arteaga made the game-sealing tackle, stopping El Camino short and clinching the upset.

Arteaga led the defense with a game-high 19 tackles, while Isaiah Strong added 14. The Comets' defense forced two turnovers and held the Warriors to just 226 yards through the air, despite El Camino's total of 443 yards of offense. The win improved Palomar to 1-1 on the season and handed the Warriors their first loss, thanks to a second-half defensive stand that will be remembered.

Palomar will return home to face College of the Canyons on Saturday at 2 p.m.