Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
VALLEY GLEN -- The Glendale Community College football team's defense,
a talented unit led by a strong defensive front and a speedy secondary,
is turning heads in the Western State Conference.
The Vaqueros' defense continued its recovery from a dismal first two
games to lead GCC to its first three-game winning streak since 1994.
Thanks in large part to Carlos Coronado's three sacks and seven solo
tackles and Randy Beckman's 11 tackles, GCC defeated host L.A. Valley,
20-16, Saturday in a WSC Mountain Division game.
"We're just sticking together," said Coronado, who helped limit the
Monarchs to 179 yards passing. "We're starting to mold together. We're
just a family now. Now we've just been blending in."
GCC defensive lineman Zack Acker, a sophomore from St. Francis, had
two of the Vaqueros' eight sacks.
Beckman, a sophomore defensive back who picked off his second pass of
the season, was also an important factor in shutting down a woeful L.A.
Valley passing attack.
The Burroughs High graduate elevated in the air to recover a blocked
punt in the end zone with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter that
gave GCC (3-2, 3-0 in conference) a 20-6 lead.
"We've stepped up tremendously," Beckman said. "As a unit, we've all
brought it together. We just said [after our second game against San
Bernardino Valley, a 34-23 loss] that we have to go four quarters.
"These past three games that's what we've been doing."
GCC's primary receiver, Steve Carballo, has seen spot action this
season in the free safety position and the sophomore showcased his
athletic ability Saturday, intercepting Ruben Zaragoza's pass with under
a minute to play to preserve the victory.
Vaquero running back Clifford Gatlin, who has been sharing duties with
Wes Jones and Kartell Clayton, continued to solidify his spot as the
primary ball handler, carrying the ball 36 times for 136 yards. His
26-yard score in the third quarter broke a 6-6 tie, a lead the Vaqueros
wouldn't relinquish despite an impressive performance from Monarch
running back Brandon Graham.
Graham rushed for 169 yards in 17 carries, but the Monarchs (2-3, 2-1
in conference) didn't receive a lot of help from his supporting cast as
seven other rushers amassed seven yards.
"Our players are getting better and better," GCC Coach John Cicuto
said. "They came out with a sense of urgency. It's so satisfying to have
a defense that could make plays. We haven't had that in eight years."
BOX SCORE
GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 20, L.A. Valley 16
