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Long return by Harris provides spark for ELAC

East L.A. College quarterback Pedro Velasquez launches a pass against Santa Monica. Velasquez threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-37 ELAC victory. (Photo by Mario Villegas)
By WAVE STAFF

Story Published: Nov 3, 2009 at 6:19 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 6:19 PM PST

Jeremy Harris returned the second-half kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to spark a 25-point third quarter surge that propelled the East L.A. College football team to a 51-37 come-from-behind victory over Santa Monica Saturday.

The Huskies (3-5 overall) improved to 3-2 in the Pacific Conference and can assure themselves of finishing the season with a winning conference record if they can defeat West L.A. (2-6 overall, 1-4 in conference) Saturday at ELAC.

Moreover, Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 6, will be the Huskies final home game of the season. ELAC closes out the regular season Nov. 14 at Santa Barbara.

“West L.A. is better than its record,” ELAC Coach Lynn Cain said. “They’ve lost some close games, including a one-point loss to Santa Monica. They’ve got some really good athletes and have a lot of speed. They are going to be another challenge for us.”

West L.A. is coming off a 42-40 victory over Santa Barbara.

One of the good athletes Cain was talking about is Wildcat quarterback Alan Ferguson, who was 24-of-32 for 252 yards and two TDs passing and rushed for 119 yards and three scores on 13 carries last week. He has thrown for 1,060 yards and seven TDs on the season.

Another Wildcat athlete is tailback Al White, who carried 21 times for 118 yards against Santa Barbara.

ELAC, once 0-3 and 1-4, is playing some of its best football of the season lately.

One of the reasons is sophomore quarterback Pedro Velasquez, who threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns against Santa Monica. He has 2,349 yards and 16 TDs for the year.

His favorite target against Santa Monica was Michael Allen (Lynwood), who caught six passes for 221 yards and three scores. Jorge Valdovinos caught eight for 87 yards, David Cater caught five for 45 yards and Anthony Denham had four for 62 and a TD.

For the year, Valdovinos has 46 catches for 501 yards and Denham, an L.A. Wilson product, has 38 for 815 and 11 TDs.

At Santa Monica, the Huskies were down 20-14 at halftime to a Santa Monica team that had posted back-to-back victories and was halfway to a third straight.

But Harris, the 6-2, 175-pound freshman defensive back and return specialist from Dorsey High School, got the Huskies’ comeback started with his long return.

Santa Monica (2-6, 2-3) quickly regained the lead, however, but back came the Huskies behind Velasquez, who ran nine yards for a score and threw an 18-yard TD pass to Allen for a 33-27 lead.

After a Santa Monica field goal cut the Husky lead to three, Velasquez connected with Allen on a 78-yard pass play to extend the lead to 39-30.

The lead soon went to 51-30 as Denham caught a 35-yard scoring pass and Emmanuel Rodriguez scored on a short run.

In the first quarter, Pegues scored on a six-yard run and Velasquez hit Allen on a 66-yard pass for a 14-3 lead. Santa Monica rallied to lead, 20-14 at the break.

“I told them that I wasn’t going to give them a Knute Rockne-like speech,” Cain sad. “I told them that they knew what they needed to do and that they would have to step it up in the second half. We had some players come out and step up.”

While the Huskies flourished offensively, the defense had just enough to stop Santa Monica (2-6 overall, 2-3 in conference).

“Our offense is playing really well, but our defense is being challenged and has a few areas to shore up,” Cain said. “We need our offense to help the defense by keeping them off the field with long drives.”

Linebacker Steve Torres (Garfield) recorded nine total tackles for the Huskies.
Torres also helped keep a Huskies’ scoring drive alive in the first quarter by running 27 yards to a first down after faking a punt attempt.