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Comets in NFL, 4-year colleges

NFL Football

Ex-Palomar receiver Spencer

signs NFL contract with Redskins

(6/3/07) 

Former Palomar slot receiver Caleb Spencer has signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins.

Spencer (left and below right) started 35 games the past three seasons for the University of Nevada, finishing his Wolfpack career with 189 receptions for 2,214 yards. He made the All-WAC first team as a junior in 2005 and was second team as a senior in 2006.

The 6-foot-0, 180-pounder from Kamehameha High School in Honolulu, HI, played his freshman season for the Comets in 2003, catching 42 passes for 772 yards and five TDs for a team that went 8-3 and was ranked No. 15 nationally by the J.C. Grid-Wire at the end of the regular season.

Both the Comets' regular-season losses came in overtime to teams that finished the regular season with 10-0 records, Mt. SAC and College of the Canyons.

Spencer led Nevada in receiving last Fall with 55 receptions for 564 yards. He had four catches for 34 yards in the Wolfpack's 21-20 loss to Miami on Dec. 31 in the MPC Computers Bowl at Boise, ID. At Nevada, Spencer had high single games of 10 receptions as a sophomore in 2004 (vs. San Diego State), 12 as a junior in 2005 (vs. UNLV) and eight as a senior in 2006 (vs. Arizona State and again against Northwestern).

Previously, offensive tackle Chris Pino (who played on the four-year college level at San Diego State) signed with the Baltimore Ravens and defensive end Corey Mace (who played at Wyoming) signed with the Buffalo Bills.

QB Hallock accepts scholarship

to West Texas A&M University

(6/1/07) 

Carter Hallock, who was a back-up quarterback for the Palomar College football squad in 2006, has accepted a scholarship to West Texas A&M University.

The NCAA Division II Buffaloes, formerly West Texas State University, play in the Lone Star Conference.

West Texas A&M is located in Canyon, TX.

Mercury Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Miami Dolphins who was a 1,000-yard rusher for the Dolphins' unbeaten 1973 Super Bowl Championship team, is the Buffaloes' most notable former player.

Hallock backed up starter and first-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American Tyler Lorenzen (Now at UConn) and freshman Hunter Wanket (who returns this Fall) at quarterback for the 2006 Comets.

His scholarship means every Palomar quarterback, starter and non-starter, since 1988 who finished his sophomore season has gone on to play on the four-year college level.

The list of players moving on to play from the Comets' 2006 team now stands at 14 and is expected to reach more than 20.

Palomar signings, commitments and transfers as of June 1, 2007:

• All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (University of Connecticut)

• Safety Derrick McMahon (University of Wyoming)

• Defensive end Tyler Breckenridge (University of Wyoming)

• Offensive tackle Una Smiley (Oregon State)

• Safety Trent Barker (University of Utah)

• Punter / kickoff specialist Jake Harry (University of Missouri)

• Tight end Kevin Small (University of Idaho)

• Corner Chris Williams (University of Idaho)

• Center Nick Macias (Sacramento State)

• Linebacker Tyler Hiatt (Adams State)

• Offensive tackle Tony Faasoa (Northern State)

• Quarterback Carter Hallock (West Texas A&M)

• Safety Nick Graves (Redlands)

• Defensive tackle Joe Sloan (Azusa Pacific)

Three more Comets move on to 4-year schools

(5/15/07) 

Three more Palomar College football players are on their way to four-year college programs, touching off what is expected to be a flurry of Comets' signings after the conclusion of university spring drills.

Chris Williams (Escondido High School), a 6-foot-1, 210-pound corner, will play for the University of Idaho.

Tyler Hiatt (right, Corona Centennial High School), a 5-11, 227-pound linebacker, has signed with NCAA division II Adams State.

Tony Faasoa (Kaimuki High School in Honolulu), a 6-6, 310-pound offensive tackle, has signed with NCAA Division II Northern State.

The list of players moving on to play from the Comets' 2006 team now stands at 13 and is expected to reach more than 20.

Mace signs out of Wyoming with Buffalo Bills

(5/1//07) 

Former Palomar defensive lineman Corey Mace (left) has signed an NFL free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. The 6-foot-3,  287-pound defensive end / tackle  starred for the University of Wyoming the last two season.

Mace (left) will report to mini-camp with the Bills next week.

He becomes the second former Palomar and Wyoming player currently in pro football.

Safety Ron Rockett plays with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe.

Yahoo.com: Pino 2nd on Ravens depth chart

(4/12/07) 

Yahoo.com lists former Palomar standout Chris Pino (right) as No. 2 on the Baltimore Ravens' depth chart at offensive left tackle -- behind All-Pro veteran Jonathan Ogden, who may retire.

Pino (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) played on the Division I level at San Diego State and made it to the final cut last season with the Washington Redskins.

He saw extensive action in the Redskins' final preseason game -- against the Ravens, who signed him to their practice squad when he was released.

Pino was promoted to the regular roster in January.

Palomar safety Barker will play football for Utah

(3/16/07) 

Palomar sophomore strong safety Trent Barker (No. 11, right) will play football at the University of Utah.

Barker committed to Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham in person on Friday, Barker said by telephone from Salt Lake City.

Barker was the Comets' second-leading tackler during the 2006 season, with 50 (28 solo) in 11 games. He had six tackles for losses, a sack, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Schmidt and Rockett both sign with NFL Europe

(3/9/07) 

Former Palomar football players Taylor Schmidt (who played center, San Diego State) and Ron Rockett  (safety, University of Wyoming, pictured at left making a tackle against Florida) both have signed contracts with NFL Europe.

Both were selected in late February in the 16th round of the league's draft -- Taylor with the Rhein Fire and Rockett with the Frankfurt Galaxy.

Both are reporting to training camp in Florida. Taylor made it through most of the 2006 NFL pre-season with the Seattle Seahawks before being released.

Lorenzen, Graves honored as scholar-athletes

(3/9/07) 

All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) and safety Nick Graves (right) will be honored as Scholar-Athlete-Leader Award recipients at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame dinner tonight at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley.

Lorenzen, a 4.0 Business Management major, transferred in January to the University of Connecticut. Graves, a 3.7 Pre-Med major, will play at the University of Redlands. They're two of the three San Diego County community college players who will  honored along with university and high school players,

Athletic Director John Woods will accept Lorenzen's award.

Palomar DE Breckenridge signs with Wyoming

(2/15/07) 

Defensive end Tyler Breckenridge (right), a 6-foot-3, 273-pound sophomore from Fallbrook High School, has made it official, accepting a scholarship to play football for the University of Wyoming.

Comets who signed with four-year colleges earlier were All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (Connecticut), safety Derrick McMahen (Wyoming), offensive tackle Una Smiley (Oregon State), punter/kickoff specialist Jake Harry (Missouri), tight end Kevin Small (Idaho), center Nick Macias (Sacramento State) and defensive tackle Joe Sloan (Azusa Pacific).

Breckenridge's signing brings the Comets' list so far to eight.

University of Idaho lands Palomar TE Small

(2/5/07) 

Kevin Small (left), a 6-foot-4, 260-pound sophomore tight end, committed to the University of Idaho on Monday,  bringing the early list of Palomar football transfers, signings and commitments to six with NCAA Division I schools and to seven overall.

Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (Connecticut), safety Derrick McMahen (Wyoming), offensive tackle Una Smiley (Oregon State), punter/kickoff specialist Jake Harry (Missouri), center Nick Macias (Sacramento State) and defensive tackle Joe Sloan (Azusa Pacific) are other 2006 Comets on the list so far.

Lorenzen signs with UConn, is Big East-bound

(12/11/06) 

Palomar first-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, the 2006 national community college total offense leader and California Offensive Co-Player of the Year, made it official on the first mid-year community college signing date Wednesday, returning his signed letter-of-intent to the University of Connecticut.

"He is a talented athlete who has very good arm strength, good feet and all of the intangibles that you look for in a quarterback," UConn head coach Randy Edsall said in a statement. "His athletic ability and his understanding of the game, plus the intangibles, is what attracted us to him. I am very happy that he chose the University of Connecticut."

A 4.0 student in Business Management who transferred from Iowa State  11 months ago, has completed work on his A.A. degree at Palomar and will be immediately eligible at UConn. Spring semester classes at UConn begin on Jan. 16.

Lorenzen made an official visit to UConn on Dec. 2-4, flying in within hours of the Huskies' return flight from their the night of their final game against Louisville.

"From the get-go, I was looking for a school that wanted me, was headed in a winning direction and was committed to winning -- and where I would have the opportunity to compete for the starting job right away," Lorenzen said.

"Connecticut met those expectations and more. From facilities to the way the coaches conducted themselves to everything about the university, Connecticut was a class act. They run an offense very similar to Tom Craft's (former Palomar and San Diego State head coach and consultant for the Comets during the 2006 season) offense we ran at Palomar.

"The Big East is a BCS conference, and one of the best BCS conferences. I wanted to go to a program that is on the rise and where I could have a chance to help get them where they want to go. On top of everything, UConn has a great academic reputation."

Two other Big East teams also recruited Lorenzen -- Cincinnati, which came into the process at the last minute after a change of coaches, and Rutgers.

Lorenzen committed to UConn barely three days after cancelling the remainder of his recruiting trips and three days after being named state offensive Co-Player of the Year by the California Community College Coaches Association. (He was joined by offensive tackle Una Smiley, a second-team Grid-Wire All-American, on the all-state first team).

Lorenzen cancelled a trip this past weekend to Baylor, which unsuccessfully appealed a Big 12 Conference rule that would have made it impossible for him to return to the same conference he began his career at (at Iowa State). That also eliminated Oklahoma, which also was recruiting him. Other schools that recruited Lorenazen included Utah and Houston.

Lorenzen completed 229 of 332 passes for 2,960 yards, throwing for 26 touchdowns (compared with only three interceptions). He also rushed for 836 yards and eight touchdowns.

CLICK HERE to view Dec. 14 North County Times feature on Tyler Lorenzen

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Smiley recovering, resumes classes

(1/17/07) 

Una Smiley (left), the second-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American offensive tackle who was shot five times in the legs Dec. 9 after leaving a club in Albuquerque, NM, on a football recruiting trip to the University of New Mexico, has recovered to the point he is walking without the aid of crutches.

Smiley, who faces upcoming surgery to repair nerve damage in his right leg, has returned to Palomar and began spring semester classes this week.

Scout.com, ESPN.com and the Portland Tribune have all reported Smiley, the Comets' 6-foot-6, 285-pound left tackle who has a frame Division I coaches feel can be significantly bulked up and is considered an NFL prospect, has verbally committed to Oregon State.

McMahen verbals to U. of Wyoming

(12/15/06) 

Palomar College football free safety Derrick McMahen, an All-Mission Conference free safety and the Comets' defensive MVP, has comfired that he'll accept a scholarship to the University of Wyoming.

McMahen, a 6-foot,195-pound sophomore from Fallbrook High School, recorded 43 tackles (20 solo) for the Comets in 11 games.

He had two tackles for losses, three interceptions for 55 yards, three broken-up passes, a quarterback hurry, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

He had a fourth interception, which he returned for a touchdown, called back.

The first day of the JC early signing period will be Wednesday.

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Lorenzen named MVP at banquet

(12/11/06) 

Sophomore All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) was named Most Valuable Player at the Palomar football banquet Monday evening at the Dome.

Lorenzen also received the Offensive MVP award. Safety Derrick McMahen (right) was named Defensive MVP. Slot receiver / kicker returner Kyle Hill was selected as Special Teams MVP. Slot receiver Tyler Fenton was recipient of the Kevin Kelly Award.

Fenton and safety Trent Barker were named co-captains.

Other awards went to Una Smiley (Outstanding offensive lineman), Tony Kolone (Outstanding defensive lineman), Carter Hallock (Most Inspirational and Kodak Award) and  Victor Aquilina (Most Improved).

J.C. Grid-Wire 2006 All-America team

Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen is the 2006 J.C. Grid-Wire All-American first-team quarterback (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Lorenzen 1st-team All-American;

Smiley selected as 2nd-team tackle

(11/28/06) 

Palomar's Tyler Lorenzen was selected as the first-team quarterback and Comets offensive tackle Una Smiley was named to the second team on the 47th Annual J.C. Grid-Wire All-American football team.

Lorenzen (right), a 6-foot-5 sophomore transfer from Iowa State who will take his first recruiting trip to the University of Connecticut this weekend, led the nation in total offense during the 2006 season

In 11 games, Lorenzen completed 229 of 332 passes for 2,960 yards, throwing for 26 touchdowns (compared with only three interceptions), with a long-gainer of 95 yards (to Tobias Shanks) vs. Fullerton. He also rushed for 836 yards and eight touchdowns with a long gain of 70 yards vs. Los Angeles Harbor.

He becomes the Comets' seventh All-American quarterback, joining a list that also includes Brett Salisbury (who later played at Oregon), Andy Loveland (who played at Oklahoma State), Tom Luginbill (who played at Georgia Tech) and Andy Goodenough  (who played at Arizona State). Chris Keldorf, who went on to become 1997 ACC Player of the Year and set 17 school passing records at the University of North Carolina, did not make the All-America team.

Lorenzen was an all-state quarterback at Eddyville-Blakesburg High School in Eddyville, IA, was switched to wide receiver at Iowa State and returned to his original QB position this season at Palomar. He was the Mission Conference American Division Offensive Player of the Year.

Smiley (left), the Comets'  6-6, 280-pound offensive left tackle,  came to Palomar from Moanalua High School in Honolulu, HI. He was a first-team Mission Conference American Division selection.

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Scholar/Athlete All-American team

Tyler Fenton makes diving touchdown catch in 45-27 victory over Pasadena City College. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Four Palomar players are selected

Palomar's Tyler Lorenzen, Tyler Fenton, Trent Barker and Nick Graves have been selected to the J.C. Grid-Wire Scholar/Athlete Community College All-American football team as honorable mention picks.

Lorenzen (left), who is carrying a 4.0 grade-point average as a Business major, would have been a first-team candidate but was not eligible to be honored because he is the first-team quarterback on the Grid-Wire All-American team.

In 11 games, Lorenzen completed 229 of 332 passes for 2,960 yards, throwing for 26 touchdowns (compared with only three interceptions). He also rushed for 836 yards and eight touchdowns.

Fenton, a sophomore slot receiver and Business major, had 43 receptions for 553 yards and six touchdowns.

Barker (right), a sophomore safety and Business major, recorded 50 tackles (20 solo) and had a fumble recovery.

Graves (left), a sophomore safety and Pre-Med major, had 24 tackles (nine solo), two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Palomar's defensive line awaits snap against nationally No. 1-ranked Saddleback on Saturday night. From closest to camera, Chris Oxidine, Tony Kolone, Zach Hamideh and Gerardo Powell. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Comets fall to top-ranked Gauchos

when 2-point attempt falls short

(11/18/06) 

Palomar couldn't have come any closer to winning its first-round state playoff football game at nationally No. 1-ranked Saddleback Saturday night.

Unfortunately, close doesn't count. The Comets were short on a two-point conversion run with 23 seconds to play and dropped a 30-28 decision to the 11-0 Gauchos that ended an unlikely end-of-season run by a team that was 3-4 at one point in the season.

This, on a night Palomar outgained Saddleback 486 yards to 355 in total offense, led by quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left, 37-for-48 passing for 382 yards and three touchdowns, 62 yards rushing on 17 carries) and slot receivers Tyler Fenton and Kyle Hill.

Fenton (right) finished with 12 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown, Hill (below, left) with seven catches for 105 yards and a TD -- plus 63 yards on two kickoff returns.

Palomar, trailing 30-14, scored on a 10-yard pass from Lorenzen to Malik Lagree and a two-point conversion run by Diondre Grigsby with 9:33 to play, cutting Saddleback's lead to 30-22.

The Comets then forced the Gauchos to punt and drove 90 yards in 17 plays, with a touchdown called back along the way, and pulled to within two points at 30-28 on Grigsby's 3-yard TD run with 23 seconds to play. A two-point conversion run was short, and after considerable deliberation the officials ruled Saddleback recovered Palomar's onside kick try.

In all, Palomar was penalized 99 yards and had two touchdowns called back, along with a series of long gainers and first downs.

Safety Derrick McMahen had eight tackles and a pass break-up, Chris Oxidine also had eight tackles and Mike Bethea and Tyler Hiatt each recorded seven tackles. Michael Wright, Zack Hamideh, Kevin Rohas, Trent Barker and Tony Kolone also helped lead the defensive push for the nationally 24th-ranked Comets (6-5).

Lorenzen was voted as co-offensive player of the game in the National Bowl, which doubled as the playoff opener, with Saddleback's P.T. Gates (105 yards and four touchdowns rushing on 22 carries).

Hill played from the first quarter on with a broken hand.

Palomar's six losses came  by seven, six, four, three and two points, in that order, in a season in which the Comets were oh-so-close.

Palomar's defense, shown here vs. Pasadena City College, will face perhaps its toughest test Saturday against running back Patrick "P.T. (Prime Time) Gates and nationally No. 1-ranked Saddleback (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Comets, top-ranked Saddleback

tangle in first round on Saturday

(11/17/06) 

Palomar, ranked No. 24 in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire, and No. 1-ranked Saddleback will clash in the first round of the state community college football playoffs Saturday at Saddleback in a match-up that appeared all but impossible just four weeks ago.

Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. at Saddleback's field in Mission Viejo.

The Comets -- who are 6-4, with their four losses coming by seven, six, four and three points -- were 3-4 four weeks ago and appeared to be going nowhere after a late 41-38 road loss to Fullerton that was made possible by a blocked punt.

What a difference a few weeks make. Palomar won its last three regular-season games by blow-out margins of 45-27 (over Pasadena City College), 42-7 (over one beaten at the time Mt. SAC) and 41-17 (over two-time defending Mission Conference American Division champion Long Beach City College).

That finish gave the Comets the American Division championship and produced Saturday evening's match-up with the Gauchos (10-0), which will double as the National Bowl.

The game will pit Palomar quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (upper left), the nation's total offense leader and the Mission Conference American Division Offensive Player of the Year, against Saddleback running back P.T. Gates (right, known as Patrick Gates when he was CIF-San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year at Marion Catholic High School, before donning his "Prime Time" Gates nickname).

Gates is the Mission National Division Offensive Player of the Year.

"Obviously, we're the underdogs," Palomar coach Joe Early said. "Saddleback has won every game, and in about every way possible -- blowing teams out, winning in overtime, coming from 17 points back to win. They're ranked No. 1 in the nation for a reason.

It should be a great match-up for the fans. Both teams have put up a lot of yards and points offensively, and we've got the American Division Player of the Year (Lorenzen), who is the best community college quarterback in the country, matched against the National Division Player of the Year (Gates), who is the best community college running back in the country,

"The team that wins the game could be the last team with the football."

The other side of the coin is that the defensive unit, led among others by last week's Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Week, free safety Derrick McMahen, could hold the key for the Comets.

Only two things appear certain in this one. The Gauchos are recognized by just about everyone as the best team in the nation. But the Comets most likely are the country's hottest team.

Saddleback is coming off a 42-38 shootout victory over El Camino College last Saturday before a packed house at Saddleback in a showdown for the National Division championship.

PROBABLE STARTERS / KEY RESERVES

OFFENSE

Wide Receivers

6 -- Marques Parker, 6-1, 178, Fr, Omaha Westside HS (Omaha, NE)

9 -- Tobias Shanks, 6-2, 185, Fr, Port Gibson HS (Port Gibson, Miss.) / San Diego St.

ALSO: 83 -- Carrington Barbour, 6-2, 208, Fr, San Marcos HS; Louis Hall, 6-2, 200, So, Oceanside HS; 26 -- Adam Madden (6-2, 185, Fr, Friendship Edison HS (Washington D.C.)

Slots

3 -- Tyler Fenton, 6-0, 190, So, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS (Eddyville, IA) / Northwest Missouri St.

15 -- Kyle Hill, 5-10, 190, Fr, Oceanside HS

21 -- Malik Legree, 5-10, 190, So., Fallbrook HS / Saddleback CC

TIGHT END PACKAGE: 84 -- Kevin Small, 6-4, 260, So, Escondido HS

Quarterback

4 -- Tyler Lorenzen, 6-4, 220, So, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS (Eddyville, IA) / Iowa St.

8 -- Hunter Wanket, 6-5, 198, Fr., Torrey Pines HS

ALSO: 12-- Carter Hallock (6-3, 225, So, Northgate HS (Walnut Creek) / Grossmont CC

Running Back

28 -- Donnell Fulford, 5-10, 200, Fr, Temecula Chaparral HS

ALSO: 46 -- Adrian Allen, 5-10, 210, Fr, Murrietaq Valley HS; 30 -- Diondre Grigsby, 5-11, 205, Fr, San Pasqual Academy. FULLBACK PACKAGE: 40 -- J.D. Kodadek, 6-0, 230, Fr, Poway HS

Tackles

75 -- Una Smiley, 6-6, 280, So., Kaimuki HS (Honolulu, HI)

72 -- Tony Faasoa, 6-8, 310, So, Kaimuka HS (Honolulu, HI)

Guards

69 -- Nick Macias, 6-4, 275, So, Morro Bay HS

71 -- Darin Awong, 6-3, 380, So, Kapolei HS (Honolulu,  HI)

ALSO: Steve Kolone, 6-3, 280, So., Rancho Bernardo HS

Center

68 -- Victor Aquilina, 6-1,  260,  Fr, Carlsbad HS

DEFENSE

Ends

58 -- Chris Oxidine, 6-3, 235, Fr, Mt. Carmel HS / Azusa Pacific U

93 -- Tim Asaivao, 6-1, 260, Fr, Vista HS

ALSO: 91 -- Grant Wallenda, 6-4, 215, Fr, West Valley HS (Hemet); 97 -- Gerardo Powell, 6-0, 205, Fr, Friendship Edison  HS (Washington, D.C.)

Tackles

98 -- Tony Kolone, 6-3, 275, So, Rancho Bernardo HS

51 -- Zack Hamideh, 6-3, 285, So, San Marcos HS

ALSO: 90 Simon Malo, 5-11, 280, Fr, El Camino HS; 96 -- Joe Sloan, 6-3, 275, So, Valley Center HS; 60 -- Jason Phillips, 6-2, 265, Fr, Etiwanda HS

Middle Linebacker

43 -- Tyler Hiatt, 5-11, 227, So, Corona Centennial HS

36 -- Mike Bethea, 6-3, 240, Fr, La Costa Canyon HS

Outside Linebackers

44 -- Lawrence Hunt, 5-9, 195, Fr, Vista HS

52 -- Quinton Tang, 5-11, 218, Fr, Moanalua HS (Honolulu, HI)

ALSO: 48 -- Jesse Jones, 6-2,  210, So., Murrieta Valley HS; 56 -- Willie Watters, 6-2, 238, Cherry Creek HS (Englewood, CO) / Montana; 36 -- Garrett Mills, 5-10,220, Fr, Cherry Creek HS (Englewood, CO) / Fort Hays St.

Corners

7 -- Michael Wright, 5-9, 175, Fr, Vista HS / Montana St.;

17 -- Lamont Taylor,  5-11, 180, So, Ganesha HS (Pomona) / College of the Siskiyous)

ALSO: 13 -- Chauncey Dariso, 5-10, 175, Fr, Oceanside HS; 24 -- Dudley Jeanville, 5-9, 165, So, North Miami HS (Miami, Fla.) / Vermillion (MN) CC

Strong Safety

11 -- Trent Barker, 6-2, 210, So, Torrey Pines HS

Free Safety

41 -- Derrick McMahen, 6-0, 195, So, Fallbrook HS

2 -- Nick Graves, 5-11, 175, So, San Pasqual HS

SPECIALISTS

PAT's, Field Goals

10 -- Alex Mugica, 6-1, 190, So, Temescal Canyon HS (Lake Elsinore) / Riverside CC

Kickoffs

1 -- Jake Harry, 6-1, 195, Fr, Torrey Pines HS / Oregon St

Kickoff Returners

15 -- Kyle Hill, 5-10, 190, Fr, Oceanside HS

6 -- Marques Parker, 6-1, 178, Fr, Omaha Westside HS (Omaha, NE)

Punt Returner

15 -- Kyle Hill, 5-10, 190, Fr, Oceanside HS

Punter

1 -- Jake Harry, 6-1, 195, Fr, Torrey Pines HS / Oregon St

10 -- Alex Mugica, 6-1, 190, So, Temescal Canyon HS (Lake Elsinore) / Riverside CC

8 -- Hunter Wanket, 6-5, 198, Fr., Torrey Pines HS

Long Snappers

66 -- Wade Wilcox, 5-10, 180, Fr, Mt. Carmel HS

58 -- Chris Oxidine, 6-3, 235, Fr, Mt. Carmel HS / Azusa Pacific U

52 -- Quinton Tang, 5-11, 218, Fr, Moanalua HS (Honolulu, HI)

All-Mission American Division team

Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen is a unanimous All-Mission Conference American Division selection and its Offensive Player of the Year. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Lorenzen Offensive Player of Year,

Early co-Coach of Year in conference

(11/14/06) 

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, the Iowa State transfer who leads the nation in total offense, was selected as Mission Conference American Division Offensive Player of the Year Tuesday in balloting by conference coaches.

Coach Joe Early, who will send the Comets into the first round of the state community college playoffs Saturday at 5 p.m. at nationally No. 1-ranked  Saddleback, was selected Co-Coach of the Year with Mt. SAC's Bob Jastrab..

Palomar's other first-team selections are freshman running back Donnell Fulford, freshman receiver Tobias Shanks, sophomore offensive tackle Una Smiley and freshman cornerback Michael Wright.

Comets selected to the second team were sophomore guard Steven Kolone, sophomore offensive tackle Tony Faasoa, sophomore defensive tackle Zach Hamideh, freshman inside linebacker Mike Bethea, sophomore outside linebacker Jesse Jones, sophomore strong safety Derrick McMahen, sophomore free safety Trent Barker and freshman punter Jake Harry.

Palomar players who received honorable mention were slot receiver Tyler Fenton, wide receiver Marques Parker, guard Darin Awong, center Victor Aquilinas, punt/kickoff returner Kyle Hill and inside linebacker Tyler Hiatt.

Comets 41, Vikings 17

Palomar routs LBCC, wins division

(11/11/06) 

It took the Palomar football squad three plays to get on the scoreboard on a 65-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) Saturday evening.

And the Comets hardly stopped to catcher their collective breaths as they rolled over Long Beach City College 41-17 at Veterans Stadium on the Long Beach campus.

The victory gives the Palomar a tie for the Mission Conference American Division championship with Mt. SAC, a 24-19 winner over Fullerton -- and the division's automatic berth in the California State playoffs. The latter, because of the Comets' 41-7 rout of the Mounties one week ago.

Playoff pairings will be announced Sunday at 2 p.m.

Lorenzen, who leads the nation in total offense, rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and also hit on 12 of 18 pass attempts for 185 yards and another TD.

The Comets rolled up 298 yards on the ground, with Adrian Allen (right, 112 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries) and Diondre Grigsby (77 yards and two TDs on 11 carries) also having big nights   behind the offensive line blocking of tackles Una Smiley and Tony Faasoa, center Victor Aquilina and guards Nick Macias, Darin Awong and Steve Kolone.

Lorenzen's other TDs came on a 13-yard pass play to Tobias Shanks later in the first quarter and a 2-yard run late in the third quarter. Palomar's other points came on runs of 4 yards by Allen, 5 yards and 1 yard by Diondre Grigsby and four PAT kicks by Alex Mugica.

Hunter Wanket came in at quarterback with a little over five minutes to play and connected with Tyler Fenton on a 13-yard pass play and followed that with a 19-yard run he nearly broke for a touchdown as he drove the Comets to the Long Beach 22. He wound up taking a knee to end the game.

Safety Derrick McMahen (left) forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and returned an interception 31 yards to help spark the Comets defensively. He also recorded five tackles (four solo). Mike Bethea and Kevin Rojas also had five tackles each. Michael Wright intercepted a pass and contributed four tackles. Lamont Taylor, Jason Phillips and Tony Kalone, back from an injury, had four tackles each. Tyler Hiatt and Tim Asaivao combined on a sack.

Punter Jake Harry boomed a 52-yarder for the Comets (6-4,  4-1).

(11/4/06) 

Playing on the road against a team that entered the game with a 7-1 record, No. 5 state ranking and No. 11 national ranking, Palomar's football team could not have made a louder statement than they did Saturday with their 42-7 victory at Mt. SAC

Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) passed to Tyler Fenton for touchdowns of 59 and 14 yards, ran in a 16-yard touchdown, set up another TD with a 24-yard run and set up yet another touchdown with a 23-yard completion to Kyle Hill down to the 9.

As a result, the Comets are a huge step closer to a berth in the state community college playoffs.

Palomar goes to the playoffs if the Comets win their regular-season finale at Long Beach City College next Saturday night and Mt. SAC defeats Fullerton, a 24-20 upset loser to Riverside Community College Saturday evening..

With the above scenario, Palomar and Mt. SAC would tie for the division title, with the Comets advancing by virtue of their win over the Mounties. If Palomar and Fullerton win, they would tie for the championship, but the Hornets would get the automatic berth because they beat the Comets two weeks ago. Palomar would then have to make the playoffs as an at-large team.

Palomar's defense also came up big Saturday, holding Mt. SAC to just 47 yards rushing and 113 yards passing, and punter Jake Harry pinned the Mounties at their their 19, 16, 5 and 10-yard lines.

"In big games, players make plays and that's what our kids did," said Palomar coach Joe Early, whose Comets (5-4, 3-1 Mission Conference American Division) outscored the Mounties 36-0 over the last three quarters.

Lorenzen's 24-yard run down to the Mt. SAC 24 set up J.D. Kodadek's 1-yard dive into the end zone over both the Comets' and Mounties' lines for the Comets' third touchdown.

Lorenzen, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Iowa State transfer who leads the nation in total offense, was 15-for-21 passing for 246 yards and added 64 yards rushing against a Mt. SAC defense that is ninth in the state.

"Our defense gave us the ball in great field position," Lorenzen said. "It was a real physical game -- look at my (apparently broken) nose. We outlasted them."

Palomar's defense held Mt. SAC to 57 yards rushing and 113 yards passing and allowed the  Mounties into the red zone only once, on a fumble at the 19-yard line which set up the losers' only touchdown. a 21-yard pass from Jake Fadden to Travis Lee. Red-shirt freshman corner Michael Wright (right), a transfer from Montana State, led the defensive effort with eight tackles (four solo/,  one for a loss, and a pass break-up.

The Comets' other touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Adrian Allen, starting at running back for the injured Donnell Fulford, the team's leading rusher, who did not play, and a 2-yard run by Diondre Grigsby.

"We knew we were capable of playing like this," Early said. "We just beat the No.5 team in the state and No. 11 team in the nation, who probably deserved to be ranked higher, and beat them 42-7 on there field. Now we need to beat Long Beach and also get a little help. I'm not sure a lot of teams are excited about the possibility of getting us in the playoffs."

Palomar 45, Pasadena 27

(10/28/06) 

Nick Graves, Zach Hamideh, Michael Wright and Jesse Jones made a series of big plays in the second half Saturday.

Along the way, they sparked Palomar back from a 19-17 halftime deficit to a 45-27 rout of Pasadena City College in the Comets' home football finale at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium.

Graves (left) recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown and also intercepted a pass. Hamideh recovered a fumble to set up another TD. Wright also intercepted a pass, and Jones (right) blocked a field goal attempt and also had an interception -- enabling the Comets to outscore the Lancers 28-8 over the last two quarters.

That, three touchdown passes by national total offense leader Tyler Lorenzen and a pair of short touchdown runs by Donnell Fulford helped the Comets even their season record at 4-4, advance to 2-1 in the Mission Conference American Division and keep their playoff hopes flickering on an afternoon Pasadena quarterback David Pittman threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns by completing 32 of 53 attempts.

Tobias Shanks and Tyler Fenton made diving endzone catches of 15-yard and 18-yard passes from Lorenzen and Alex Mugica botted a 26-yard field goal in the first half, but the Comets went in at halftime down by two points. Lorenzen finished 21-for-34 passing for 230 yards.

Fumble recoveries by Graves and Hamideh on Pasadena's first two plays in the second half brought Palomar back.

Fulford rushed for 85 yards and touchdowns of 2 and 4 yards. Diondre Grigsby ran for 88 yards and a 4-yard TD. Mugica added six PAT kicks and Jake Harry averaged 40.5 yards on four punts and delivered five kickoffsinto the end zone as Palomar's much maligned kicking game played a key role in the victory.

PCC fell to 2-6, 0-3 in the American Division.

Lorenzen's 404 yards, 4 touchdowns fall short

(10/21/06)

Palomar quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) rolled up 404 yards in total offense and four touchdowns Saturday, but a flurry of mistakes proved fatal as the Comets lost to host Fullerton 42-39 in a Mission Conference American Division football game.

Lorenzen hit on 22-of-31 pass attempts for 326 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 78 yards and a 30-yardTD on 78 carries. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Iowa State transfer threw TD completions to Tobias Shanks (right) for 41 and 95 yards, and to Malik Lagree for 24 yards.

But the host Hornets (4-3, 2-0 Mission American Division) returned an interception for a touchdown and a fumble for a touchdown, set up a TD with a 62-yard run on a fake punt, scored on a safety when Palomar's punter threw the ball through the end zone for a 25-yard loss after a bad snap -- then set up Carlos Reyes' 20-yard winning field goal with six seconds to play by blocking a punt.

Shanks had four catches for 144 yards.

The Comets (3-4, 1-1 Mission American Division), led 24-14 at halftime and 38-35 after Donnell Fulford's 1-yard touchdown run with 12:09 to play.

On an afternoon when Palomar's special teams struggled, Alex Mugica kicked a 35-yard field goal and five extra points. Punter Jake Harry averaged 42.5 yards for two punts but wasn't in the game for the final punt block after sustaining a concussion making a tackle on a return.

Linebacker Mike Bethea (left), a freshman from La Costa Canyon who missed the early season after having his appendix removed, led the Comets defensively with eight tackles (three solo), including a tackle for a loss. Gerardo Powell caused a fumble with a 3-yard sack, and Derrick McMahon and Kevin Rojas recovered fumbles.

Lorenzen: 483 yds. in 52-20 victory over Tigers

(10/14/06)

Tyler Lorenzen (left) said Palomar looked at Saturday's Mission Conference American Division football opener against defending co-champion Riverside Community College at the beginning of a new season.

"If we intend to play in the post-season, and we definitely intend to play in the post-season, we knew going in we couldn't stumble," the 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore transfer quarterback from Iowa State said.

Suffice it to stay that the Comets did not stumble, getting 483 yards in total offense from Lorenzen and routing the Tigers 52-20 at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium.

Lorenzen connected on 29-of-39 pass attempts for 394 yards and three touchdowns -- to Kyle Hill for 6 yards, Tobias Shanks for 27 yards and Tyler Fenton for 7 yards. He added 89 yards rushing on 12 carries.

All the above, before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter. Hunter Wanket came on at quarterback and drove the Comets to their final touchdown.

Donnell Fulford ran for touchdowns of 1 yard, 8 yards and 1 yard again, and caught eight passes for 91 yards. Shanks had 5 receptions for 90 yards and Fenton five for 89 yards, highlighted by a 51-yarder to set up his own TD catch.

Diondre Grigsby ran 6 yards for a touchdown and Alex Mugica kicked seven of seven extra points and a 28-yard field goal, rounding out Palomar's scoring.

Tyler Hiatt, Chauncey Dariso, Michael Wright and Nick Graves intercepted passes for Palomar (3-3 overall). Dariso led the Comets with 10 tackles (9 solo), and Lee Grant recovered a fumble.

"Our moto all week was that this was the start of a second season for us, and we have to get it done if we want to win our division and go to the postseason," coach Joe Early said. "The three teams we lost to, all by a touchdown or less, were a combined 14-1 going into this weekend, and with a few breaks we could have been 5-0 coming in. But, all that aside, this is what counts -- the division."

Marques Parker returns kickoff for Comets. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Palomar can't hold 4th-quarter lead, fall 28-24

(9/30/06)

For the third straight week, Palomar dropped a close game to a nationally-ranked football opponent Saturday, falling 28-24 to No. 11-rated El Camino at Escondido  High School's Wilson Stadium.

This, after leading the Warriors 24-14 with less than 10 minutes to play in the game.

The Comets took a 10-point lead with 8:10 left in the third quarter on a 28-yard pass play from Tyler Lorenzen to Donnell Fulford, but El Camino dominated the rest of the game.

Lorenzen completed 19 of 34 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, the other going to Marques Parker for 13 yards. Palomar (2-3) also scored on a 23-yard field goal by Alex Mugica and Fulford's 4-yard run.

Chauncey Dariso intercepted a pass in the end zone for the Comets for a touchback. Lawrence Hunt recovered a fumble.

Middle linebacker Tyler Hiatt recorded 9 tackles (4 solo) for the Comets and broke up a pass. Dariso had 7 tackles (5 solo) and broke up 2 passes. Defensive tackle Zack Hamideh had 6 tackles (4 solo), safety Nick Graves 5 tackles and defensive tackle Tony Kalone notched a sack for a 6-yard loss.

The Comets had a touchdown called back and a field goal blocked.

"If we win (the Mission Conference American Division), which begins in two weeks, we go to the playoffs," Palomar coach Joe Early said. "But we can't keep doing what we're doing and losing games we could and probably should win."

Palomar has a bye Saturday and will host Riverside Community College on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium to begin Mission Conference American Division play.

Palomar's Kyle Hill turns the corner on a kickoff return Saturday. Hill had an 87-yard punt return nullified in the second quarter. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

(9/23/06)

Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) completed 28 of 36 pass attempts for 353 yards and three touchdowns Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough for the nationally No. 19-ranked Palomar football team.

The Dons (4-0) returned a punt for a touchdown, blocked a punt to lead to another TD and rode a 183-yard rushing performance by Brian Allen and four Kasey Peters TD passes to a 41-35 victory at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium.

All that said, the biggest two plays may have  been an 87-yard punt return  for a touchdown by Santa Ana's Leslie Bonsu in the first quarter that stood, and an 87-yard punt return for a TD by Palomar's Kyle Hill that was nullified by a penalty in the second quarter.

"It's frustrating to make the kind of mistakes we made against a good football team again," said Palomar coach Joe Early, whose team had two punts blocked in a loss to Orange Coast last week and is now 2-2.

"The (Mission Conference) is so balanced, anybody can beat anybody on a given week. If these two teams played 10 times, we'd probably win five games and they'd probably win five."

Lorenzen's touchdown passes went for 6-yards to Tyler Fenton, 27-yards to Tobias Shanks and 69 yards to Marques Parker with 2:21 left in the game. That, along with Alex Mugica's fifth PAT kick of the day,  pulled the Comets to within the final six-point margin. Trailing 41-21; after Allen's 1-yard touchdown with 5:52 to play, Palomar scored the game's final 14 points.

Santa Ana then was able to get a key first down on a third-down play in the final half-minute and successfully ran out the clock.

Lorenzen also hooked up with Carrington Barbour on a 61-yard pass play down to the Santa Ana 5, setting up J.D.Kodadek's second short-yardage TD run of the game, a 1-yard plunge with 4:27 left.

Parker had six receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, Shanks seven for 81 yards and a touchdown, and Fenton five for 47 yards and a TD..

Palomar blocked three Santa Ana PAT attempts, two by Jeremy Pires and one by Jesse Jones. Pires also blocked a field goal try.

Lawrence Hunt (14 tackles, seven solo), Trent Barker (11 tackles, three solo), Lamont Taylor (10 tackles, six solo) and Tyler Hiatt (10 tackles, 5 solo) also stood out defensively. Derrick McMahon broke up two passes.

Blocked punts prove fatal for Comets vs. OCC

(9/16/06)

Orange Coast College blocked three Palomar punts in the second quarter, turning two of them into cheap touchdowns and beating  the Comets 28-21 in a Mission Conference football opener Saturday evening in Costa Mesa.

The Pirates (3-0) took a 14-0 lead in a 3-minute, 55-second span in the second period, scoring on a 1-yard, 1-play drive after the first blocked punt and a 6-yard run after the second block gave them the ball at the Palomar 23.

The Comets (2-1) battled back to go on top 21-20 on a 59-yard touchdown pass play from Tyler Lorenzen to Tobias Shanks, a 1-yard TD run by Lorenzen, a 4-yard TD run by Donnell Fulford and three Alex Mugica PAT kicks. But Orange Coast won the game on a 41-yard pass play with 3:46 left on the fourth quarter.

Lorenzen rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and hit on 13-of-21 pass attempts for 123 yards and a TD with four drops. Billy Hibdon rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries before leaving the game with an injury and Fulford added 66 yards and a TD on 18 attempts.

Marques Parker (four receptions for 35 yards), Tyler Fenton (three catches for 16 yards) and Tyler Stewart (two catches for 22 yards) had multiple receptions for the Comets.

Palomar, ranked No. 13 nationally by the J.C. Grid-Wire going into the game, out-gained Orange Coast 237-118 yards rushing and 123-80 yards passing.

Defensively, strong safety Trent Barker (left) came up big for Palomar, with a forced fumble, seven tackles (three solo) and a tackle for a loss. Linebacker Tyler Hiatt had six tackles (two solo) and broke up a pass. Free safety Derrick McMahon recovered a fumble.

But, in the final analysis, the punt blocks were too much to overcome.

The Comets return home to play Santa Ana in their second Mission Conference game on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Escondido High School's Wilson Stadium. American Division play begins in the second half of the season.

Palomar's defense has surrendered only one touchdown in two games. End Tyler Breckenridge (85), tackle Zack Hamideh (51), tackle Simon Malo (90) and end Greg Oxidine (50) are pictured in 59-0 win over West Los Angeles. (Photo by Hugh Gerhardt)

Palomar will bid for 3-0 start at Orange Coast

(9/15/06)

Palomar, ranked No. 13 in the nation by the J.C. Grid-Wire, will try to up its season record to 3-0 when the Comets visit Orange Coast on Saturday.

Kickoff in the Mission Conference opener is slated for 5 p.m. at LeBard Stadium on the Orange Coast campus. Orange Coast also comes in 2-0.

"It'll be a good test for us," coach Joe Early said. They're not anything like the teams we've played the last two weeks (the Comets defeated West Los Angeles 59-0 and Los Angeles Harbor 55-21).

"We can't give up the big play. They like to run  the ball to set up the play-action pass, and we have to be aware of that. They like to blitz in certain situations, so we have to try and stay out of third-and-long situations. And we have to bring our 'A' game on special teams, because they've returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in their first two games."

A year ago, the Pirates returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a game the Comets eventually won 40-32.

Iowa State transfer Tyler Lorenzen received Mission Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors last week after his 403-yard, six-touchdown performance against Harbor.

Donnell Fulford (left) packs the football on the way to an evening that saw him rush for 73 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries; Coach Joe Early (right) talks to team after Comets' 55-21 victory. (Photos by Dirk Dewachter)

Lorenzen (403 yds., 6 TD's) leads in 55-21 win

(9/9/06)

For his Palomar road-game debut, Tyler Lorenzen outdid himself.

The J.C. Grid-Wire pre-season All-American (left) led the Comets (2-0)  to a 55-21 non-conference victory over  Los Angeles Harbor (1-1) on Saturday evening at San Pedro High School.

He led the Comets by rolling up 403 yards in total offense (287 yards passing with a 20-for-32 performance, 136 yards rushing, right) -- with six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing).

Lorenzen's TD passes went to Marques Parker for 3 yards in  the first quarter, Tobias Shanks for 33 yards later in the first quarter, to Shanks for 29 yards in the second quarter and to Tyler Stewart for 37 yards in the third quarter.

He ran 14 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and 70 yards for another TD in the third period.

Donnell Fulford rushed for 73 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 13 carries. Billy Hibdon added a 2-yard TD run.

Shanks had seven receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

The Comets led 35-7 at halftime and wound up with 549 yards in total offense, 264 rushing and 285 passing, holding the Seahawks to 25 yards rushing and 254 yards in total offense.

Free safety Derrick McMahen (right) intercepted two passes, returning one of them 22 yards. Lamont Taylor had a pick and a 52-yard return. Nick Graves, Jordan Peiler, Tyler Breckenridge and Jason Phillips recorded sacks.

This upcoming Saturday (Sept. 16), the Comets will open their 2006 Mission Conference season against Orange Coast College at LeBard Stadium on the OCC campus.

Kickoff will be at 5 p.m.

CLICK HERE to view photos from this game and to order prints on-line

CLICK HERE to view stats from game

CLICK HERE for updated Palomar 2006 statistics through 2 games

Lorenzen, Smiley are preseason All-Americans 

(9/7/06)

Palomar landed two football players on the J.C. Grid-Wire All-American pre-season team -- quarterback Tyler Lorenzen (left) on the first team and offensive tackle Una Smiley on the second team.

Offensive tackle Tony Faasoa was an honorable mention selection.

Lorenzen is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore transfer from Iowa State. Smiley is a 6-6, 280-pound sophomore from Moanalua High School in Honululu. Faasoa is a 6-6, 310-pound sophomore from Kaimuki High School in Honolulu.

Tackle Tony Kolone (98) and Palomar defensive teammates pitched a shutout in season opener. At right, Donnell Fulford, who scored three touchdowns, heads to daylight behind center Nick Macias (69). Guard Darin Awong is shown leveling West L.A. defender at right. (Photos by Hugh Gerhardt)

Lorenzen's, Comets' debut turns out a 59-0 hit

(9/3/06)

Give Palomar quarterback Tyler Lorenzen's transfer from Iowa State an "A".

You can also give Saturday's 2006 season football opener the same grade.

Lorenzen  (passing at left, and breaking off touchdown run at right), who transferred from Iowa State in January, completed 13-of-17 pass attempts for 230 yards and a touchdown, added 88 yards and a TD on five rushes, and the Comets rocked West Los Angeles' world 59-0 in a non-league game at Escondido High's Wilson Stadium.

Lorenzen, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound left-handed sophomore, scored a touchdown on a 25-yard run and threw a 6-yard pass to running back Donnell Fulford for another TD.

He also set up a touchdown with a 34-yard run down to the 2-yard line, set up another with a 40-yard completion to Marques Parker down to the 9, set up another with a 21-yard pass to Fulford down to the 1 and set up his own touchdown pass to Fulford with a 39-yard completion to Tyler Fenton down to the 6.

"Let's just say I'm extremely happy to be (at Palomar)," said Lorenzen, who was moved from quarterback his red-shirt season two years ago to receiver last year as a redshirt freshman.

"Palomar has great players, great teammates, great coaches and is just a great place to be. Iowa State has an excellent program and I liked a lot of things about Iowa State. They were good to me. But I wanted to pursue playing quarterback, so it was time to move on."

Billy Hibdon ran for three touchdowns for the Comets from 11, 2 and 9 yards. Fulford also had three TDs, tacking runs of 16 and 9 yards onto his touchdown catch. Parker had five catches for an even 100 yards.

Palomar, missing injured  preseason all-state tackle Una Smiley, rushed for 337 yards behind an offensive line anchored by right tackle Tony Faasoa, a 6-6, 310-pound sophomore.

In pitching the shutout, the Comets held the Oilers to 158 yards in total offense -- 79 rushing and 79 passing. Palomar rolled up 567 yards in total offense and finished with 25 first downs to West L.A.'s nine.

Linebacker Tyler Hiatt had 10 tackles (three solo). Safety Derrick McMahen intercepted a West Los Angeles pass. Linebacker Lawrence Hunt made his community college debut doing the same thing he was an expert at as a undersize defensive lineman at Vista High School -- stripping the ball from a West L.A. ball-carrier and returning the fumble 10 yards. 

The Comets led 45-0 at halftime and Lorenzen left the game after the first series in the second half.

Both Palomar's other quarterbacks, Hunter Wanket and Carter Hallock, moved the Comets after Lorenzen's departure but, for the most part, spent the rest of the game handing off the ball to back-up running backs Adrian Allen (66 yards and a TD on eight carries), Diondre Grigsby (44 yards on 11 carries) and DeAer Williams.

Wanket also had a 13-yard run on a play he nearly broke for a touchdown.

• Photo above left: Palomar defense buries West Los Angeles' Ryan Henry

CLICK HERE for San Diego Union-Tribune report on the game

CLICK HERE for North County Times report on the game

CLICK HERE for Today's Local News report on the game

Hall of Fame tabs onetime Comet Dempsey

Tom Dempsey, a three-sport standout at Palomar who set an NFL record when he kicked a 63-yard field goal on the game's final play (right) to give the New Orleans Saints a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Nov. 8, 1970, was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 18 in Visalia. 

Dempsey, born with half a right foot (his kicking foot) and no right hand, played defensive end for the Comets in football, was a conference heavyweight champion in wrestling and threw the discus in track & field.

He began kicking his sophomore season at Palomar and played for 11 seasons in the NFL with the Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills, retiring after the 1979 season.

Guard Sergio Cabrera (left) has become the third Palomar football player to sign with Sacramento State.

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