EL CAMINO DEFEATS CCSF, 49-35, FOR CALIFORNIA CC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Dec. 9, 2006
Fred Baer for the COA

FRESNO – El Camino College of Torrance won its first California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics football championship since 1971, defeating four-time titlist City College of San Francisco, 49-35 on two fourth-quarter touchdowns by Jamicah Bass Saturday afternoon at Chukchansi Park.

Bass, a 6-0, 215-pound sophomore who is headed for Oregon State, rushed for 145 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 33 yards and the winning score -- a 17-yarder from Boo Jackson on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Jackson completed 15 of 24 passes for 273 yards and two scores. The other TD catch was by Miami-bound wide receiver Kayne Farquharson, who caught six passes for 90 yards and also returned a kickoff 84 yards for second quarter score to receive game MVP honors.

Southern California champion El Camino, which completed a 12-2 season, led five times in the topsy-turvy contest, which was also tied twice and saw Northern California champ CCSF (10-2) take two leads.

CCSF’s drive for the last tie proved costly. Nebraska-bound quarterback Zac Lee injured a knee on a two-yard scamper to the El Camino one-yard line. The Rams knotted it at 35 with 6:37 left in the third quarter on a one-yard keeper by back-up QB Kyle Barker and his conversion pass to Andre Wells. But without Lee at the helm (although he gamely returned for one futile fourth quarter drive) the Warriors were able to keep CCSF in check.

Lee passed for 375 yards (21 of 32) -- 331 in the first half. He had a pair of TD tosses – to Kenny O’Neal, who grabbed 12 balls for 229 yards, including an 85-yard catch and run.

Lee had been responsible for all but two of CCSF’s 212 pass completions this season. Barker was able to move the Rams downfield (throwing for 90 yards and rushing for 34) but couldn’t get them into the end zone.

Tyreece Jacks, CCSF’s usual top rusher, was limited to 19 yards on eight carries.

El Camino’s Simi Kuli recovered a San Francisco fumble and the Warriors intercepted two Barker passes (one in the end zone by Sione Tuli, one on the 12 by James Wheeler) to thwart the Rams’ title hopes.

The game featured 1,115 yards of offense, 570 by CCSF and 545 by El Camino. For El Camino, which split its attack with 273 passing yards and 272 rushing yard, Corey Surrency had 125 yards on six pass receptions and Patrick Hill added 52 yards on eight rushes.

El Camino’s previous championship victory, 35-years ago, was over Santa Rosa JC, 48-14. CCSF won state crowns in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003. The Rams have been the runners-up for the last three years.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

Outstanding Offensive Player: Jamicah Bass, El Camino (RB)

Outstanding Defensive Player: Nicholas Thurston, CCSF (LB)

Most Valuable Player: Kayne Farquharson, El Camino (WR)

Final Records: El Camino (12-2), CCSF (10-2)