Modesto Junior College bounces back, routs Cabrillo

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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There's no better time to exorcise demons than Halloween night.

The Modesto Junior College Pirates spooked the ghosts from last week's loss at Chabot and easily disposed of the Cabrillo Seahawks, 35-7. It was a quick and emphatic kill, a 21-0 rip during the first quarter that answered all questions about the Pirates' bounceback skills.

"I'm just pleased with the team's rebounding from a lackluster game," MJC coach Sam Young said. "We've got a lot of stuff left to play."

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Simply, the Pirates (5-3, 2-1) flipped 180 degrees in one week, from a six-turnover flameout at Chabot to a take-charge performance against Cabrillo (4-4, 1-2). Greg Panelli threw for 264 yards (15 of 26) and three touchdowns, and receiver Vince Andrews responded from his worst game to arguably his best -- 9 catches for 213 yards and two TDs.

The victory has positioned Modesto for an important final two weeks. If it beats Golden Gate Conference-leading Laney in Oakland on Friday night and Merced in the regular-season finale, it will win at least a share of its third straight GGC title.

The Pirates dictated all terms by driving 85 and 72 yards for touchdowns on their first two possessions. The first TD was a gem -- a perfect 24-yard fade pass by Panelli that found Andrews on the run in the end zone.

The play that broke Cabrillo, however, was an 81-yard TD punt return by the freshman Donovan Wallace from Riverbank. His kickoff returns have proved lethal all season, but he put MJC up 21-0 after having fielded punts for only the last two games. Wallace found a crease to his right and burst into open field, eluding the punter at the 45, racing through a jersey-grabbing tackle and then pulling the Seahawks' Anthony Bendana the final five yards into the end zone.

"The Riverbank Bruin is a weapon," Young said. "They're not even kicking to him anymore, so he's learning how to return punts."

Wallace, who possesses game-breaking speed and is now showing it nearly every week, knows he's still a novice in the punt-return game.

"After I broke through," he said, "it was smooth sailing."

For him, of course, but not for Cabrillo. The Seahawks, outgained 424-236, managed only one first down, via a penalty, while MJC built a 21-0 lead.

Modesto then displayed some killer instinct by marching 98 yards in six plays to lead 28-0 early in the second quarter. Panelli hooked up with Andrews on the bubble screen, their favorite play, and Andrews stepped into the clear, following the downfield blocking by lineman Roberto Centento Jr. to complete the 42-yard touchdown pass.

The Pirates solved the Seahawks' unconventional defense -- which puts only one lineman in a three-way stance -- with healthy doses of passes to Andrews and straight-ahead runs by tailback Cody Ball (14 carries, 103 yards).

After Cabrillo scored early in the second half, Modesto needed only seven plays to negotiate 80 yards. Nick Batteate took a reverse pitch and wasn't touched as he sped 18 yards for the score.

The Modesto defense was equally dominant. It recorded six sacks, three by Marcus McIlwain, and turned back Cabrillo threats. One of McIlwain's sacks turned a first-and-goal at the 3 into a 34-yard field goal try that was smothered by Chris Tynes.

Cabrillo, which beat Merced last week in Aptos, committed 11 penalties for 82 yards (Modesto was whistled for nine). Cabrillo didn't even record a first down during the fourth quarter.

Their reward is a high-stakes game at Laney in five days. But Saturday night was about forgetting their first GGC loss in three years.

"This keeps us in the hunt," Young said. "We'll go to Oakland and see what happens."