ESCONDIDO (9-17-11) -- David Fisher passed for three touchdowns and ran for one on Saturday at Wilson Stadium as Palomar remained unbeaten against San Diego Mesa since 1985.

The Comets, ranked No. 17 nationally by the J.C. Grid-Wire of Kirkland, Washington, rolled up 568 yards in total offense to win easily 42-14.

The Comets jumped out to a 35-0 lead five minutes into the second half. Mesa, helped along by 138 yards in Palomar penalties, came back to male the game appear marginailly more respectable for themselves as Palomar coach Joe Early played all his reserves.

Mesa's second touchdown came on a blocked punt recovery in the end zone.

Fisher threw two touchdown passes to Alex Wheat for 14 and 17 yards and a TD pass to Nigel Westbrookst for 23 yards.

Fisher also ran for a 5-yard touchdown and the Comets' other points came on a 16-yard touchdown run by Michael Taele, an 18-yard TD run by Demetrius McDondle and Cameron Mercado's six PAT kicks on six attempts.

Mercado also had two kickoffs for touchbacks.

Linebacker Jeremiah Kose (7 tackles, 6 solo, 1 sack) led Palomar defensively. Adam Witzmann had 6 tackles (5 solo) and a sack, Brandon Taele-Durham contributed 6 tackles (5 solo) and a tackle for a loss.

Devin Taverna also had 6 tackles, 4 of them solo. David Moodie totaled 5 tackles, including 3 sacks. Eric Paopao and Winston Pinto also had 5 tackles each.

Cory Salazar returned an interception 34 yards to the Mesa 15 in the final minute. Palomar back-up quarterback D.J. Zapada then took a knee to end the game.

GAME STATS  |  SEASON

Dempsey's NFL record 63-yd FG mark tied again

DENVER (9-12-11) -- Palomar alum Tom Dempsey's NFL record 63-yard field goal, which gave the host New Orleans Saints a victory over the Detroit Lions as time expired on Nov. 8, 1970 in New Orleans, wastied for the second time on Monday night in Denver.

Sebastian Janikowski tied the mark to help the Oakland Raiders defeat the Denver Broncos 23-20.  "The ball really carries here," Janikowski admitted after the game. The Broncos' Jason Elon previously tied Dempsey's record, also in Denver,.in 1998.

Dempsey, who never played four-year college football after Palomar, was a defensive tackle and kicker in football, a discus thrower in track and a heavyweight wrestler for the Comets, despite being born with only half a right (kicking) foot and a surgically-fashioned claw at the end of a short right arm. The half-foot and short right arm, which was about three-quarters of the length of a "normal" person's, both were a result of birth defects.

He was an All-Star Little League and Pony League player growing up in Encinitas, catching the ball with his left hand, then removing his glove and putting it under his right arm so he could throw the ball, also with his left hand.

Along with the Saints, Dempsey played for the Phildelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills in the NFL, retiring at the conclusion of the 1979 season.

Dempsey's, one of football's last straight-on kickers before soccer-style kickers took over, was criticized as having an "advantage" because he was allowed to kick with a specially-made half shoe with a flat front. "An advantage?," Dempsey said at the time. "You try kicking a 63-yard field goal with half of a foot."

Dempsey had kicked a 72-yard field goal in practice at Palomar.

He was the first Palomar player to make it to the NFL, setting the stage for 22 more Comets to follow.

ABOVE: Palomar kicker Cameron Mercado had his second straight big game during 2-0 Palomar's 41-27 win at Cerritos out on Saturday night (above) and has been named Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. -- Photo by Hugh Cox. BELOW: Adam Witzmann, the Comets' middle linebacker and the conference's DefensIve Player of the Week.

Witzmann, Mercado are Players of the Week

LONG BEACH (9-14-11) -- Palomar's Adam Witzmann and Cameron Mercado have been selected as Southern Conference Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for their performances in Saturday's 42-27 win at Cerritos.

Witzmann, the Comets' sophomore 6-foot-0, 240-pound middle linebacker from La Costa Canyon High School, recorded 13 tackles, three sacks and 4.5 tackles for losses as Palomar advanced to 2-0 on the season.

Witzmann was selected as Male Athlete of the Week y the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, Palomar's home conference for sports other than football.

Mercado, a red-shirt freshman from Kahuku High School in Kuhuku, Oahu, Hawaii, was lights-out kicking the ball for the second straight week. Mercado kicked field goals of 41 and 48 yards, was 5-for-5 on PATs and buroed three kickoffs deep into the end zone for touchbacks.

ABOVE: Running bacl Chad Dobbins powers into the end zone for his second touchdown in  Palomar's 41-27 non-conference victory over Cerritos  on Saturday night. .-- Photo by Hugh Cox. BELOW LEFT: Middle linebacker Adam Witzmann, who had 13 tackles, 3 sacks and 4.5 tackles for losses. BELOW RIGHT: Outside linebacker Jeremiah Kose, who contributed 10 tackles, had a tackle for a loss and broke up a pass.

Comets score 28 points in 4th quarter, go to 2-0

NORWALK (9-10-11) -- Palomar exploded for 28 fourth-quarter points on Saturday night to beat Cerritos for the third time in four years 41-27 Saturday night and advance to 2-0 on the season.

The Comets and Falcons were tied  27-27 late in the fourth quarter when Palomar took the lead for good on a 1-yard run by Chad Dobbins with 2:22 remaining. It was Dobbins' second score of the night, and was set up by a quarterback keeper by David Fisher down to the 2-yard line.

The Comets then clinched the victory with 1:59 left when safety Devin Taverna intercepted Brandon Decker's pass intended for Carson Manning and returned it 41 yards for their second touchdown in 23 seconds.

The two late 0cores culminated an evening during which Palomar overcame a 403 yards to 259 yardage advantage by Cerritos as it got big-time efforts from:

• Cameron Mercado, who kicked field goals of 41 and 48 yards, tacked on 5-of-5 extra points and deposited three kickoffs deep into the end zone for touchbacks.

• Middle linebacker Adam Witzmann, who contributged 13 tackles (7 solo), 3 sacks for 14 yards and 4.5 tackles for losses

• Outside linebacker Jeremiah Kose, who had 10 tacklesa tackle for a loss and a quarterback hurry

• Taverna, who along with his touchdown interception had 8 tackles and returned a punt 55 yards

• Dobbins, who rushed for 67 tough yards and two touchdowns, the other one going for 5 yards to break a 13-13 tie after three quarters.

• Receiver Alex Wheat, who caught 4 passes from Fisher for 105 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown pass from Fisher that gave the Comets a lk27-20 lead with 8:50 to play

• Receiver Kyle Greenwood, who caught a 14-yard TD pass from Fisher with 4 seconds remaining in the first quarter, which broke a scoreless tie.

• Michael Taele, who returned a punt 53 yards to set up a Mercado field goal

• Erik Aunese, who blocked a PAT attempt that enabled Palomar to hold onto an early 7-6 lead

Brandon Joseph and Brandon Taele-Durham each contributed nine tackles. Jonathan Simpson intercepted a pass. And punter Rocco Hemphill pinned the Falcons at their 10- and 11-yard lines.

It was a real big win. Cerritos is a very good team. We beat the best 0-2 team you'll lsee," Palomar offensive coordinator Dan Early said.

Head coach Joe Early's Comets finally come home next Saturday (Sept. 17) to play their home opener against San Diego Mesa at Wilson Stadium in Escondido at 6 p.m.

GAME STATS  |  SEASON

Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Rocco Hemphill gets off his first punt of the evening on Saturday at Southwestern. Hemphill's protector is Shanta Chaloux (No. 41)

Southern Conference honors Comets' Hemphill

LONG BEACH (9-6-11) -- Palomar punter Rocco Hemphill has been selected as Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week by the Southern California Football Association.

In Saturday evening's 45-13 non-conference, season-opening victory over Southwestern, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore from Ramona High School got off a long punt of 50 yards.

Hemphill pinned the Jaguars at their own 1-yard line on a punt from the Southwestern 38 and alanded another punt to the 10-yard line and was returned 2 yards to the 12.

ABOVE: This point-after by Cameron Mercado, the latest in a long line of big-time kicking prospects at Palomar who had an outstanding night in his debut, brings the score to 28-7 at halftime...BELOW LEFT: Adam Witzmann (62) out of La Costa Canyon High School and Jeremiah Kose (45) from Vista High team  up to bring down Southwestern quarterback Brett Nelson, holding him to a short gain. J.J. Sio is in the foreground. BELOW RIGHT: Joel Yosevitch scores the Comets' third touchdown on a 21-yard run early in the second quarter. -- Photos by Hugh Cox

Fisher (5 TDs), PC top Jags 13th time in a row

CHULA VISTA (9-3-11) -- Palomar, making a strong argument that its No. 21 pre-season national ranking by the J.C. Grid-Wire / JCFootball.com is too low, rolled to a 45-13 season-opening victory over Southwestern on Saturday evening.

It was the 13th straight time the Comets have defeated the Jaguars dating back to 1988, when they were known as the Apaches, in a series that has not been contested every year.

The game was more one-sided than the final score. The Comets dominated on both sides of the ball, piling up 505 yards in total offense while completely holding the Jaguars' offense in check until the game was way out of reach.

Nevada transfer David Fisher keyed the victory as he threw for three touchdowns, ran for two more, connected on 16-of-24 passes for 215 yards, rushed for 54 net yards on eight carries and added a reception on a pass to himself when the ball was batted back at him by a Southwestern defender.

Fisher's TD passes went for 8 yards to Westbrooks in the first quarter, 18 yards to Dallas Butler later in the first quarter and 14 yards to Westbrooks in the second quarter.

He tacked on two more touchdowns on runs of 9 and 3 yards in the third quarter.

Joel Yosevitch tallied Palomar's other touchdown on an 11-yard run in the second period. He set up the TD with a 10-yard run on the previous play.

Cameron Mercado, the Comets' freshman punter from Kahuku High School in Hawaii, added 6-of-6 extra points, a 37-yard fourth-quarter field goal and kicked off eight times for a 63-yard average and two touchbacks.

Butler contributed seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown. Westbrooks had six catches for 61 yards and his two TDs. Chad Dobbins rushed for 82 yards on 10 carries.

The defense's physical, big-play performance was highlighted by end Carson Paopao's 11 tackles (10 solo).

Shanta Chaloux had 8 tackles, (4 solo) and a pass deflection.

Linebacker Jeremiah Kose had 8 tackles (3 solo).

Safety Devin Taverna had 7 tackles (5 solo and caused a fumble.

Safety Eric Paopao added 6 tackles (all solo), recovered a fumble and had a pass deflection.

Patrick Laughlin, Ofisa Kose, Josh Jacko and Eugene Lott also had six tackles apiece.

Cornerback Josh Jacko ran down Southwestern's All-American running back from behind after Aaron Harris from behind on what would have been a breakaway touchdown iln the fourth quaqrter.

Jermaine Carter returned two kickoffs for 74 yards. Austin Dennis returned three punts for 36 yards.

Punter Rocco Hemphill also had a big night with a long of 50 yards. He also pinned the Jaguars at their own 1-yard line and had another punt to the 10.

On the flip side, the Comets lost starting linebacker Ezra Latu for the season with a tibia fracture in the third quarter.

GAME STATS  |  SEASON

 

ABOVE LEFT: Coach Joe Early. -- File Photo by Rick Rowell. ABOVE MIDDLE: Devin Taverna, shown intercepting a pass against Cerritos last season, returns to lead Palomar's secondary. -- File photo by Hugh Cox. ABOVE RIGHT: Jeremy Kose, freshman linebacker from Vista High who was the North Player of the Game at July's Alex Spanos Classic prep all-star game. BELOW LEFT: Nevada transfer David Fisher, who enters Fall drills as the Comets' first-string quarterback. BELOW RIGHT: Quarterback D.J. Zapata, a transfer from the University of Montana

Lee takes his 4.40 40 time to corner for Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (8-8-11) -- The University of Utah has switched Palomar transfer Martavious "Mo" Lee from receiver to cornerback entering his junior season aa the Utes move from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12.

Lee, who has been timed at 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at Utah, made the move late in spring drills.

The Utes will kick off their season at home against Montana State and former Palomar teammate Orenzo Davis, the Bobcats' leading returning rusher, on Thursday evening, Sept. 1. They'll play their first-ever Pac-12 game the following week, on Saturday, Nov. 10, against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

PALOMAR ALUMS ON 4-YR, PRO LEVELS, 2011
4-YEAR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Player	Pos.	College / University
Brice Schwab	OT	Arizona State
Martavious "Mo" Lee	CB	Utah
Zach Gholson	DE	University of Memphis
Anthony Young	CB	Iowa State
Dean Faddis	SS	Nevada
Chris Bodreaux	FS	Nevada
Leilyon Meyers	RB	UTEP
Matt Christian	QB	New Mexico State
Sam Tupua	C / OG	Idaho
Jared Bamber	TE	Middle Tennessee State
Paul Moore	WR	Florida Atlantic
Nate Paopao	LB	Eastern Michigan
C.J. Malauulu	MLB	Kent State
Nate Ong	QB	Old Dominion
Tynan Murray	QB / LS	Western Illinois
Tyler Lavea	RB	Murray State
Devin Willis	CB	Northern Arizona
Steven Steiner	OT	Western Carolina
Arthur Williams	TE	Georgia State
Orenzo Williams	RB	Montana State
Alika Valesi	DE	Portland State
Shane Melbo	LB	Portland State
Brandon Hribar	OT	Humboldt State
John Middlemas	DL	Eastern Kentucky
Richie Mata'afa	DE / LB	Northern Alabama
Javon Reynolds	WR	Glenville State
Tyler Seau	MLB	Delta State
Mike Dobbins	G/C	Central Washington
Salim Hakim	WR	Tarleton State
Abu Jalil	OG	New Mexico Highlands
Corinthian Gray	CB	Northwood University
Jamar Fleming	DT	Malone University
Cordell Rodgers	DB	Benedict
Reggie McGrue	DT	William Penn
Tanner Hix	LB	Cal Lutheran
Keith Alpichi	LB	North Park University
David Motu	MLB	Nihon University (Tokyo, Japan)
NFL
Tyler Lorenzen	TE	New Orleans Sainta

Steiner, W. Carolina will open at Georgia Tech

CULLOWHEE, North Carolina (8-2-11) -- Steven Steiner, Palomar's 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive tackle out of Vista Murrieta High School, has transferred to Western Carolina University, which will kick off the 2011 season at Georgia Tech on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Grant Field in Atlanta. The game will be aired nationally on ESPN-3.

Steiner played for the Comets in 2009 and 2010 after missing the 2008 season after suffering an injury in a pre-season scrimmage.

Western Carolina is an NCAA Division I FCS school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Ex-defensive captain Bala will coach 'backers

SAN MARCOS (7-27-11) -- Robert Bala, a starting linebacker for Palomar's 2004 and 2005 teams, is the newest addition to the Comets' football coaching staff this Fall, returning to the program as linebackers coach.

Bala returns to Palomar, where he was an All-Mission Conference selection and defensive captain, from Snow  Community College in Ephriaim, Utah, At Snow, he served in the same role, linebackers coach, during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The Badgers won back-to-back Top of the Mountain Bowl games, over Grand Rapids (Michigan) in 2009 and Iowa Western in 2010, and earned two final Top Ten rankings in the NJCAA (non-California community colleges) poll, No. 5 in 2009 and No. 7 last season. Nine of Bala's linebackers transferred to four-year colleges, six to Division I and three to Division II.

He began his coaching career in 2008 as linebackers coach at Oceanside High School, which won the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship and was ranked No. 19 in the final USA Today Super High School Football Poll.

Bala played high school football at Oceanside, starting at linebacker for the Pirates' CIF-San Diego Section Division II championship team that was ranked No. 1 in San Diego County.

After his two seasons at Palomar. Bala landed a scholarship to Southern Utah University, a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) school in Cedar City, Utah, where he started at linebacker and received Academic All-Great West Football Conference honors.

Bala has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Southern Utah University and is currently working on his Master's degree at Concordia University of Irvine. He's single and resides in Oceanside.

Mike Dobbins (68) was a key offensive line performer for the Comets for two seasons. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

Dobbins now is  Central Washington-bound

ELLENSBURG, Washington (6-23-11) -- Palomar guard / center Mike Dobbins, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound sophomore product of Mission Hills High School, has de-committed from Western New Mexico and will play for NCAA Division II national power Central Washington University.

Central Washington was 9-3 last season, when it ventured to QWest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, and dropped a 35-32 shootout to eventual NCAA D-I Bowl Subdivision (I(-AA) national champion Eastern Washington on national TV last Sept. 11.

The Wildcats, the five-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions, will play on national TV again this upcoming season when they open conference play at Humboldt State on Sept. 8. The game will kick off at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Central Washington will open the season against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sept. 2 at home in Ellensburg, WA.

 

4-YR. COMMITS, SIGNINGS FOR 2011 SEASON
Player	Pos.	College / University
Zach Gholson	DE	University of Memphis
C.J. Malauulu	MLB	Kent State
Nate Ong	QB	Old Dominion
Tynan Murray	QB/LS	Western Illinois
Devin Willis	CB	Northern Arizona
Richie Mata'afa	DE/LB	Northern Alabama
Javon Reynolds	WR	Glenville State
Mike Dobbins	G/C	Central Washington
Reggie McGrue	DT	William Penn
Tanner Hix	LB	Cal Lutheran
Keith Alpichi	LB	North Park University

ABOVE: Richie Mata'afa (left) and Keith Alpichi bury Pasadena City College ball-carrier in Palomar's 17-10 victory last Oct. 30 in Pasadena. Mata'afa has received a full scholarship to the University of North Alabama. Alpichi will play at North Park University in Chicago. -- File photo by Hugh Cox. BELOW: Jevon Reynolds, who has signed with Glenville State in Glenville, West Virginia.

Mata'afa, Reynolds and Alpichi accept offers

SAN MARCOS (5-4-11) -- Defensive end / linebacker Richie Mata'afa has received a full scholarship to play for the University of North Alabama, receiver Javon Reynolds has signed with Glenville State and linebacker Keith Alpichi will continue his football career at North Park University.

Mata'afa, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound sophomore from Chaparral High School in Temecula, is transferring into a program that won NCAA Division II national championships in 1993, 1994 and 1995. North Alabama is located in Florence, Alabama and plays in the Gulf South Conference.

The Lions advanced to the second round of the Division II playoffs last Fall, where they were eliminated by Delta State.

North Alabama will play its third game this upcoming Fall at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Abilene Christian University.

Mata'afa recorded 24 tackles (15 solo) for the Comets in 2010 in nine games. He had eight tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass break-up, 2 quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries.

Reynolds, a 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore from Denver South High School in Denver, Colorado, was the Comets' leading receiver last Fall.with 46 catches in 10 games for 459 yards and six touchdowns.

Division II Glenville State is located in Gl8enville, West Virginia and plays in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

North Park, where Alpichi will play, is located in Chicago. Alpichi, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound sophomore linebacker from Great Oak High School in Temecula, had 42 tackles (20 solo) for the Comets during the 2010 season in eight games. He recorded 2.5 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 broken-up pass.

Cornerback Devin Willis (No. 36) makes a tackle against Grossmont in a 2009 game. Willis, who had 79 tackles (54 solo) and 23 pass break-ups in 17 games over the last two seasons, will sign with NAU. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

Willis latest Comet to commit, to sign with NAU

SAN MARCOS (1-30-11) -- Devin Willis, a sophomore cornerback who was a key defensive performer for Palomar the last two seasons, has become the latest Comet to commit to a four-year school.

Willis, Palomar's third-leading tackler in 2010 behind freshman safety Devin Tarverna and defensive end Zach Gholson, will sign with Northern Arizona University during the next NCAA signing period which begins this Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The Lumberjacks are members of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Big Sky Conference. NAU, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, are coming off a 6-5 season and will kick off its 2011 schedule on Sept. 23 against the University of Arizona in Tucson.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Willis had 79 tackles (54 solo) playing in 17 games for Palomar over the past two seasons. He had 23 pass break-ups in two years as a Comet.

As a 2010 sophomore, Willis had 58 tackles (38 solo) in 10 games, 2.5 tackles for losses, one interception, 15 pass break-ups and two blocked kicks.

The Miami Northwestern High School product is the sixth Comet to commit so far and the first from a non-North San Diego County high school.

Gholson (Memphis) is from La Costa Canyon High School. Middle linebacker C.J. Malauulu (Kent State) is from El Camino High. Quarterback Nate Ong (Old Dominion) is from San Pasqual High. Quarterback /non-snapper Tynan Murray (Western Illinois) is from Poway High. Defensive tackle Reggie McGrue, who signed with NAIA national power William Penn University, is also a Poway High product.

Kent State-bound middle linebacker C.J. Malauulu hauls down Silver Viafanua in 2010 game. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

PC Defensive captain Malauulu to Kent State

SAN MARCOS (1-24-11) -- Palomar middle inebacker Casey (C.J.) Malauulu has accepted a scholarship offer from Kent State University and will sign with the Golden Flashes during the signing period that begins Feb. 2.

Kent State will open its 2011 season on Sept. 3 at Alabama.

Malauulu, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder who came to Palomar from El Camino High School, was Palomar's defensive captain.

Malauulu, a second-generation Comet, had 47 tackles (27 solo) during the 2010 season playing in nine games and missing the other game due to an injury.

He had two tackles for losses, one sack, one pass break-up and a blocked kick.

Malauulu capped off the season in the last game of the year by helping lead the Comets to a 43-35 victory over rival Grossmont with 10 tackles (eight solo).

Four Palomar players transferred to four-year  universities at the semester, defensive end Zach Gholson transferred to the University of Memphis. Quarterback Nate Ong transferred to Old Dominion University. Quarterback / long snapper Tynan Murray transferred to Western Illinois University. Defensive tackle Reggie McGrue, Murray's teammate at both Poway High School and Palomar, accepted a scholarship to NAIA power William Penn University.

Tynan Murray, running for a first down against Fullerton on Oct. 28, has become the second quarterback and fourth 2010 Palomar player to move on to a four-year school at mid-year.. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

Murray transfers to Western Illinois at mid-year

SAN MARCOS (1-16-11) -- Palomar quarterback / long snapper Tynan Murray has become the fourth 2010 Comet to earn a football scholarship to a four-year school and transfer at the semester.

Murray signed with Western Illinois University, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Summit Conference and will begin classes in Macomb, Illinois on Tuesday.

Murray is the second 2010 sophomore Palomar quarterback to transfer out at mid-year. Nate Ong began classes at Old Dominion University last week.

Last week. defensive end Zach Gholson transferred to the University of Memphis. Defensive tackle Reggie McGrfue, Murray's teammate at both Poway High School and Palomr, accepted a scholarship to NAIA power William Penn Universilty.

Murray quarterbacked Poway to a CIF San Diego Section Division I championship and also high jumped 7-feet, 1-inch for the Titans in 2008.

He's considered a possible NFL prospect as a long snapper and spent the 2010 season backing up Ong at quarterback for the Comets and also long snapping.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Murray started at QB against Fullerton College on Oct. 28, when Ong was injured, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and passing for 146 yards and one TD.

Palomar defensive end and team MVP Zach Gholson, shown recovering a fumble in win over Pasadena City College, has excepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Memphis and will start classes there on Thursday. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

Palomar MVP Gholson signs with Memphis

SAN MARCOS (1-11-11) -- Defensive end Zach Gholson signed with the University of Memphis on Monday night, will begin classes there on Thursday and is expected to be a huge factor for the Tigers' defense the next two seasons.

Gholson,  who transferred back to Palomar from Boise State where he played in 2009, played in nine of the Comets' 10 games in 2010. He missed one game due to an injury.

The La Costa Canyon High School product had  69 tackles (34 solo), 4 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He also intercepted a two-point conversion pass, which doesn't show up in the statistical totals.

Gholson tripped to Memphis over the weekend and made a verbal commitment to the Tigers.

He briefly delayed signing the letter after returning from the trip on Sunday at the request of Nevada, which came on the scene at the last minute after watching Gholson's highlight video. But Nevada associate head coach / defensive ends coach Ken Wilson didn't place a scheduled phone call to him Monday morning, after the Wolf Pack's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl victory over Boston College on Sunday evening, and Gholson signed the letter of intent with Memphis.

"The University of Memphis is a great school in a great City and they're the one school that recruited me very heavily and really wanted me," Gholson said. "They were honest and up front with me the whole way through the recruiting process and  they believe I can make a big impact in building what they're trying to build. There is something to be said for going where you are wanted."

Added the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Gholson:

"They brought in their head coach (Larry Porter, who will be in his second season at Memphis) off the LSU staff to turn the program around and my position coach (Mike DuBose, who also will be in his second season) was the head coach at Alabama and was an assistant in the NFL (with Tampa Bay). They're great coaches and are committed to doing something special at Memphis. And I have an opportunity to be a big part of that."

Previously, Gholson took visits to the University of South Dakota, New Mexico State and Middle Tennessee State.

Choo Choo Walker, a standout receiver on Palomar's 1991 J.C. Grid-Wire national championship team, starred at Memphis (then Memphis State) in the 1990s.

-----

McGrue signs with NAIA 12th-ranked William Penn

SAN MARCOS (1-13-11) -- Defensive tackle Reggie McGrue has become the third Palomar football player in the last week to sign with a four-year college.

McGrue, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound sophomore who prepped at Poway High School, signed with William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The Statesmen went 10-1 during the 2010 season and were ranked No. 12 in the nation in the final NAIA poll.

Previously in the past week, defensive end Zach Gholson signed with the University of Memphis and quarterb ack Nate Ong signed with Old Dominion University.

2010 season

Nevada (13-1), with its PC connection, wins bowl

SAN FRANCISCO / OTHER LOCATIONS  (1-10-11) -- Nevada's defense, under coordinator and 1991 Palomar J.C. Grid-Wire All-American Andy Buh, shut down Boston College's offense and allowed the Wolf Pack to finish the season 13-1 with a 20-13 win Sunday evening in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park.

The WAC co-champion Wolf Pack, which ended Boise State's win streak in the next-to-last game of the regular season, included three former Comets (junior safety Chris Boudreaux, sophomore safety Dean Faddis (right) and senior receiver Maurice "Mo" Patterson).

Faddis made a big tackle on punt coverage in the fourth quarter to pin the Eagles deep in their own territory.

 

FORMER COMETS IN 2010-11 POST-SEASON
Player	Team	Bowl / Playoffs
Chris Boudreaux	Nevada	Fight Hunger Bowl
Dean Faddis	Nevada	Fight Hunger Bowl
Maurice Patterson	Nevada	Fight Hunger Bowl
Caleb Evans - x	Arkansas	Sugar Bowl
Jared Bamber	Middle Tennessee	GoDaddy.com lBowl
Martavious Lee - x	Utah	Las Vegas Bowl
Leilyon Meyers	UTEP	New Mexico Bowl
Orenzo Davis	Montana State	FCS (1-AA) Playoffs
Tyler Lorenzen - xx	New Orleans Saints	NFL Playoffs
x - Injured / xx - Practice Team

Palomar quarterback Nate Ong passes behind his offensive line vs. Cerritos. -- Photo by Hugh Cox

Quarterback Nate Ong signs with Old Dominion

SAN MARCOS (1-8-11) -- Old Dominion University has come in at the 11th hour and signed Palomar quarterback Nate Ong, who had seen expected offers from Iowa State and Akron de-materialize at the last minute.

Ong will transfer later this month to Old Dominion, a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) school in Norfolk, Virginia. He received a full scholarship and will participate in spring ball for the Monarchs, who are coming off an 8-3 season.

Ong, who passed for 3,966 yards and 33 touchdowns for Palomar the past two seasons, said he was ready to sign with Division II Western New Mexico when Old Dominion offensive coordinator Brian Scott contacted him on Jan. 2.

"It's a great situation for Nate," said Palomar quarterbacks coach Cody Tefethen. "They run a spread offense very similar to what we run. And Nate is not a Division II quarterback."

The Monarchs passed for 258.7 yards per game during the recent season.

Ong, who split time with current New Mexico State starter Matt Christian in 2009, threw for 1,876 yards and 15 touchdown for Palomar as a red-shirt freshman as the Comets went 10-3, were ranked No. 8 in the nation by the J.C. Grid Wire and advanced to the Southern California championship game.

He overcame an injury to pass for 2,090 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games for the 2010 Comets.

Ong quarterbacked Palomar to a near-upset against eventual state and national champion Mt. SAC. The Comets finally lost to the Mounties 20-17 on Oct. 16 in Walnut.

Ong finished the 2010 season by throwing for 338 yards and three touchdowns vs. Saddleback on the road and coming back the next week to pass for 314 yards and five touchdowns in a 43-35 win over rival Grossmont to close out the year at home.

Scott, Old Dominion's offensive coordinator who recruits Southern California for the Monarchs, contacted Ong on his Facebook page.

"I gave him my (cell) number and he called me within two minutes," Ong said. Literally within days, Ong went from having a partial scholarship to a D-II school to a full scholarship at Old Dominion.

"I'm super excited," Ong said.

An added bonus for Ong: His sister is a professor at the University of Virginia, which is located 2 hours, 53 minutes from Old Dominion, in Charlottesville.

Saints re-sign former Palomar QB Lorenzen

METAIRIE, Lousiana (12-20-10) -- The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints have re-signed 2006 Palomar first-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American quarterback Tyler Lorenzen to their practice squad.

The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Lorenzen, a former California Community College Offensive Player of the Year, switched to tight end when he originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after his senior season at the University of Connecticut, where he was a two-year starter at QB. He spent last season on the Saints' practice squad before earning a Super Bowl ring. He had a strong 2010 pre-season with the Saints but was among the last group of players to get cut on Sept. 4 of this year..

ABOVE: Defensive left end Zach Gholson, pictured recovering a fumble against Pasadena City College and hauling down an El Camino College ball-carrier, was named Palomar's MVP on Wednesday. -- Photos by Hugh Cox. BELOW LEFT: Gholson, who also was honored at Defensive Player of the Year. BELOW RIGHT:: Defensive right end, Richie Ma'atafa, who received the Kevin Kelly Award.

Gholson is honored as Palomar's team MVP

SAN MARCOS (12-2-10) --  Zach Gholson, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end who was the heart and soul of Palomar's 2010 defense, was honored as the Comets' team MVP on Wednesday during the college's awards luncheon at Hometown Buffet.

Assistant coach Ron Rockett, a former Palomar Team MVP who went on to make All-Mountain West Conference at safety for the University of Wyoming and played in NFL Europe, presented the award to Gholson.

Gholson (La Costa Canyon High School / Boise State) also was honored as Defensive Player of the Year. The big-play Gholson finished with 69 tackles (34 solo), 4 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He also intercepted a two-point conversion pass, which doesn't show up in the statistical totals.

Gholson played in nine of Palomar's 10 games, missing one game due to an injury.

Running back / kick returner Tyrese Jones (sophomore, Miami Northwestern High School ) was Co-MVP, while receiver Jevon Reynolds (sophomore, Denver South High) was named Offensive Player of the Year.

Steve Steiner (sophomore offensive tackle, Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta) was Lineman of the Year.

Nate Ong (sophomore quarterback, San Pasqual High) was named offensive captain, while Casey Malauulu (sophomore linebacker, El Camino High) was defensive captain.

Richie Maata'afa (sophomore, Temecula Chaparral High), the Comets' 5-foot-11, 230-pound defensive end opposite Gholson, received the prestigious Kevin Kelly award. The award is named for the one-time undersized Palomar J.C. Grid-Wire All-American honorable mention linebacker who went on to become a Division II All-American and died of cancer during what would have been his senior season at Eastern New Mexico University.

Special teams awards went to Tynan Murray (sophomore, Poway High), James McNally (sophomore, Escondido High) and sophomore Clinton Parker Calvin Christian High).

Tala Meyers (sophomore linebacker, Oceanside High) won the team grade-point average award.

The Most Improved Player was Keith Alpichi (sophomore linebacker / defensive end, Temecula Great Oak High). Brad Castleberry (sophomore fullback, Vista High) was Most Inspirational.

Coaches' Awards were presented to Xavier McGinnis (sophomore running back, Oviedo High in Oviedo, FL), Myers, Pat Cashman (sophomore slot receiver / punt returner, Mountain View High in Bend, OR), Cory Bitting (sophomore safety, Fallbrook High) and Mike Dobbins (sophomore guard / center, Mission Hills High).

All-Southern California Football Association National Division Southern Conference first- and second-team awards were presented to Jones, Steiner, Dobbins and Dallas Butler (freshman tight end, Mission Hills High) on offense; and Gholson, Mata'afa, Adam Witzmann (freshman linebacker, La Costa Canyon High), Meyers, Devin Willis (sophomore corner, Miami Northwestern High) and Devin Taverna (freshman safety, Oceanside High) on defense.

Robert Luth (sophomore tight end and special teams player, Mission Hills High) received the "Above and Beyond" award for overcoming obstacles to make major contributions.

The Kodak Award for scout team players went to gray-shirt linebacker Junior Tufuga.

1960s era Palomar coach Pagakis dead at 85

ESCONDIDO (12-5-10) --  Chris Pagakis, Palomar's head football coach during the 1963 and 1964 seasons, died on Nov. 28 at Palomar Medical Center. He was 85.

Pagakis, a long-time Vista resident, was an assistant at Palomar under Stu Carter in 1962, when the Comets went 7-2, allowing only one opponent to score more than eight points. After he was elevated to head coach the following season upon Carter's departure, Pagakis' teams went 5-4 and 3-6 in two seasons.

Pagakis later was Palomar's head men's soccer coach in the 1970s and '80s. Current Comet soccer coach Carlos Hernandez played for Pagakis.

Prior to joining Carter's Palomar staff, Pagakis was an assistant under Pat Mongoven at Vista High School. In 1960, the first year of the CIF San Diego Section, the Panthers upset Escondido, coached by the legendary Chick Embrey, 18-0 in the season opener. Vista lost to Mount Miguel in the first-ever San Diego Section small schools (Class 1A) finals, while the Cougars went on to win the first-ever section large schools (Class 2A) title with their only loss coming to the Panthers..

Pagakis, a native of Chicago where he starred at Parker High School, played college football at the University of Illinois. He was a halfback on the 1950 Fighting Illini team that was ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation and upset No. 1-ranked Ohio State 14-7 on Nov. 18 at Champagne-Urbana, IL

Pagakis graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951.

Palomar ranked No. 26 in U.S. by JCGridiron.com

LAKE FOREST (11-30-10) -- JCGridiron.com ranks Palomar, despite its 5-5 record, No. 26 in the country in community college football.

Mt. SAC, the defending mythical national champion which plays in the powerful Southern Conference along with the Comets, is ranked No. 1. Mt. SAC held off Palomar 20-17 in October at Walnut.

The Mounties (12-0) defeated Cerritos 51-0 in the Southern California championship game on Saturday and will host City College of San Francisco in the CCCAA state championship game on Saturday afternoon.

Butler (Kansas) is ranked No. 2, San Francisco No. 3, Navarro (Texas) No. 4, Grand Rapids (Michigan) No. 5, Arizona Western No. 6, Gulf Coast (Mississippi) No. 7, Snow (Utah) No. 8,
Copiah-Lincoln (Mississippi) No. 9 and Foothill No. 10).

Last season the Comet were ranked No. 8 nationally by the J.C. Grid-Wire / JCFootball.com of Seattle after going 10-3 and falling to Mt. SAC in the Southern California championship game.

Comet connection celebrates win over Boise

PHOTOS: Nevada safety Chris "Bubba" Boudreaux ( left), Nevada safety Dean Faddis (right), Arizona State starting offensive right tacdkle Brice Schwab (below)

RENO, Nevada (11-26-10) --  The University of Nevada, with its sizeable Palomar connection, pulled off the Upset of the Year in college football on Friday night.

The Wolf Pack shocked Boise State 34-31 in overtime and ruined the Broncos' chances of advancing to the BCS national championship game.

Ex-Comets Chris Boudreaux and Dean Faddis both saw action at safety and on special teams as Nationally No. 19-ranked Nevada, which is 11-1 on the season with its only loss coming against Hawaii in Honolulu, snapped No. 3 Boise State's 24-game winning streak.

The Wolf Pack will try to finish the regular-season 12-1 when they play at Louisiana Tech next Saturday. The Broncos, who hadn't lost since falling to TCU in the 2008 Holiday Bowl, fell to 10-1.

Palomar's Nevada connection is made up of:

-- Junior safety Chris Boudreaux, who started the Wolf Pack's season opener against Eastern Washington, had seven tackles and a sack but suffered a broken thumb in the game. Since returning to action, Boudreaux has played safety in various defensive packages and plays on most of Nevada's special teams. He has 16 tackles on the season, four coming last week in a 52-6 victory over New Mexico State.

-- Sophomore safety Dean Faddis sees extensive action at safety and on special teams and has 26 tackles, a broken-up pass and a forced fumble.

-- Senior receiver Maurice Patterson has caught eight passes for 72 yards for the Wolf Pack.

-- First-year defensive coordinator Andy Buh was a two-year starter at linebacker for Palomar in 1991, when he played on the Comets J.C. Grid-Wire national championship team, and 2002 when he was a Grid-Wire first-team All-American. His previous coaching stops have included stints at Nevada, Cal, San Diego State Fresno State and Stanford, where he was co-defensive coordinator before returning to Nevada.

Faddis and Boudreaux are both looking to start next season and thus follow in the footsteps of ex-Comet Mike Bethea, who played for Nevada in 2008 and 2009 and was the Wolf Pack's second-leading tackler last season at linebacker.

The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints brought Bethea to mini-camp prior to the current season. When he did not stick with the team, Bethea returned to the University of Nevada where he's finishing work on his degree.

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Junior 6-foot-7, 345-pound  Brice Schwab is the starting offensive right tackle for Arizona State, which ended UCLA's chances for a six-win season, which would make it bowl eligible, by destroying the Bruins 55-34 on Friday night in Tempe, Arizona.

Schwab was previously the Sun Devils' starting left tackle, was briefly demoted to second string after their loss to No. 1 Oregon, but since has resurfaced as their starter at right tackle.

Schwab was ranked as the best community college offensive line prospect in the country a year ago. He initially committed verbally to USC, then de-committed in December when coach Pete Carroll resigned .

Schwab cancelled a trip to Oklahoma and transferred to ASU during winter break., leaving a surprised UCLA coach Rick Neuhelsel, who didn't realize Schwab had already left for Arizona State, scurrying around Palomar in a rainstorm searching for him.

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Caleb Evans, a 6-foot-4, 254-pound junior, is a defensive end at Arkansas, which is 10-2, ranked No. 12, defeat No. 6 LSU 31-26 on Saturday and is hoping for a BCS bid.

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Note: Arkansas has moved to No. 8 and Nevada to No. 14 in the Associated Press poll. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, Arkansas had moved to No. 8 and Nevada to No. 13.

 

COMETS PLAYING ON 4-YEAR LEVEL IN 2010 SEASON
Player	Pos.	College
Brice Schwab	OT	Arizona State
Chris Boudreaux	FS	Nevada
Dean Faddis	SS	Nevada
Maurice Patterson	WR	Nevada
Caleb Evans	DE	Arkansas
Anthony Young	FS	Iowa State
Leilyon Meyers	RB	UTEP
Matt Christian	QB	New Mexico State
Sam Tupua	C/G	Idaho
Jared Bamber	TE	Middle Tennessee State
Martavious Lee	WR	Utah (medical red-shirt)
Paul Moore	WR	Florida Atlantic
Nate Paopao	LB	Eastern Michigan
Orenzo Davis	RB	Montana State
Arthur Williams	TE	Georgia State
Tyler Levea	RB	Murray State
Mao Lefiti	DE	South Dakota State
Matt Segi	MLB	Portland State
Alika Valesi	DE	Portland State
Shane Melbo	LB	Portland State
Justin Klingerman	OT	Old Dominion
John Middlemas	OLB	Eastern Kentucky (red-shirt)
Tyler Seau	MLB	Delta State
Jamar Fleming	DT	Morgan State
Jack Dill	OT	Concord
Mike Tuimavave	C	Northeastern State
Jordan Peiler	DT	Tennessee-Martin
Chris Calvert	CB	Tennessee-Martin
Salim Hakim	WR	Tarleton State
Corinthian Gray	CB	Norhwood
Abu Jalil	OG	New Mexico Highlands
Joey Erickson	QB	Tabor
Marquis Leama	RB	Tabor
David Motu	MLB	Nihon University (Japan)