SAN PEDRO (9-11-16) — On a night when the Grossmont College offense sputtered, the Griffins defense erased the deficit and rose to the occasion, posting five interceptions and returning three for touchdowns in a 37-27 victory over Los Angeles Harbor.
Jordan Ellis intercepted 2 passes for the second game in a row, returning one for 17 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter. It was his second pick six of the year.
James Julius picked off a pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Griffins a 37-21 lead and sealing the victory over the Seahawks (1-1).
Grossmont also received interceptions from Tyler Clanton and Anton Paige.
"Offensively we weren't firing on all eight cylinders," said Griffins coach Mike Jordan. "But our defensive play was real special."
In two games Grossmont now has 9 interceptions, which leads the state.
Freshman running back Keith Fulton broke into the Grossmont offensive backfield for the first time and left his mark. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Fulton, from Metairie, GA, rushed for 123 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run on 23 carries.
"There's no doubt he was our standout on offense this week," said Jordan.
Grossmont took the early lead on a 25-yard field goal by Conner Erwin with 6:19 left in the first quarter.
LA Harbor then took the lead on a 42-yard interception return for TD by Justice Augasa.
The Seahawks continued the momentum in the second quarter as Jalin Scott flipped a 2-yard pass to Darrion Jones to make it 14-3 in favor of LA Harbor.
The Griffins (2-0) then barged back on a 2-yard plunge by Nehemiah Brown to make it 14-10.
Roderick Chapman bolted 100 yards on the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown that gave the Seahawks a 21-10 lead. The momentum was clearly in Harbor's corner.
Grossmont had different ideas, however, as the Griffins scored 4 consecutive touchdowns to recover the lead. Ellis scored on an interception, Fulton scored on a 16-yard run, Roderick Woods scooped up a fumble and ran 37 yards for a score. Julius knocked in the final nail with his lengthy interception return for a touchdown.
With 6:20 to play Harbor scored but could never out maneuver the Griffins down the stretch.
Grossmont produced only 187 yards total offense, and Harbor collected 199.
"We're getting better each week," said Jordan. "But we have to cut down on the errors and polish up our offense."
Brown finished with 48 yards rushing on 18 carries. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 88 yards and caught one pass for 14 yards.
It was not quarterback Brad Cagle's night as he completed only 6 of 23 passes for 34 yards, and suffered 2 interceptions.
Grossmont's leading receiver, Adrian Tolbert, was shut out by the Seahawks' double- and triple-team coverage.
Grossmont opens the home season next Saturday (Sept. 17) when they host state power El Camino at 3 p.m.