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# FOOTBALL SMC snaps losing skid behind a stingy defense
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/football-smc-snaps-losing-skid-behind-a-stingy-defense/
- Published: 2006-10-31T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:56:34.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By ED GONZALEZ Special to the Daily Press*

SANTA MONICA — LaVaughn Macon rushed for 121 yards and the Corsair defense forced four turnovers in the second half as Santa Monica College snapped its three-game losing skid on Saturday, posting a 21-10 victory over the East Los Angeles College Huskies at Corsair Field.

Trailing 10-0 at halftime, Santa Monica head coach Robert Taylor decided to pull quarterback Colin Clancy, who had only completed two passes for 12 yards, in favor of freshman Brandon Howell in an effort to ignite the struggling offense.

While Howell completed five of nine passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, it was the play of Santa Monica’s defense and the challenge the defensive coordinator Rory Barnett placed on his players at halftime that helped lead the Corsairs to a come-from-behind victory.

“I told them that in the first half they played well, but it was not good enough. We need to create more turnovers to give our offense an opportunity to put the ball in the end zone,” said Barnett.

The Corsairs finally got on the scoreboard as the third quarter ended, with Jamal Bernard recovering a fumble for Santa Monica at East LA’s 47-yard line. Five plays later, Howell connected with Carlton Richard for a 17-yard touchdown to cut the Huskies’ lead to 10-7.

Santa Monica forced another fumble on East LA’s next possession, as quarterback Nicolas Acuna dropped the snap and line-backer Stephen Peterson recovered the ball at the Huskies’ 19-yard line. The Corsairs took the lead for good on a Macon 15-yard touchdown run with 12:30 remaining in the game.

“Our defense stepped up this entire football game,” said Taylor. “They only allowed three points in this game. That’s a pretty good job in 60 minutes.”

Santa Monica (2-6, 2-3 Western State Conference) will celebrate their homecom-ing festivities next Saturday, Nov. 4, against the Glendale College Vaqueros (7-1, 4-1 WSC).

An Athletic Hall of Fame banquet sponsored by the SMC Foundation will precede the game, with inductees to include Olympic Gold Medalist and former SMC Track coach Tommie Smith. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Corsair Field.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 31, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/103106.pdf?ref=smdp.com)