Penalty Lets Southwest Slip by L.A. Valley, 12-9

Los Angeles Southwest College won its home opener, 12-9, Saturday afternoon on the strength of a last-second penalty against Los Angeles Valley College.

With no time left on the clock, L.A. Valley quarterback Mark Mengoli threw a 12-yard pass to tight end Sean Brown for a touchdown and apparent victory.

But holding was called against L.A. Valley, and the play was nullified.

The next game for the Cougars will be Saturday at Bakersfield College.

This win makes Southwest 3-0 overall (2-0 in the Northern Division of the Western State Conference). L.A. Valley is 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the Southern Division of the WSC.

Cougar quarterback Craig Manigo completed eight of 16 passes for 80 yards. Southwest’s only touchdown came in the first quarter on an 18-yard run by Manigo.

On the extra-point attempt, L.A. Valley blocked the kick and, under a new rule, Scott Holden ran it back 97 yards for a two-point safety.

Southwest got the winning points in the fourth quarter on two field goals by Jason Thomson. The first one, a 26-yarder with 11:34 left in the game, tied the score at 9--9. The second, a 17-yarder, came with 2:40 left after the Cougars’ Eric Gibbs ran 19 yards to the L.A. Valley three-yard line but Southwest’s offense stalled.

The Cougars’ Damon Whitmore rushed for 94 yards, Gibbs for 65 and William Jerrett for 52.