Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College football team (2-3) escaped a slugfest on Saturday as it hosted Air Force Prep Academy at Kino North Stadium.
The Aztecs struggled in the second half offensively but held on to beat the Huskies 21-14.
The Pima offense was forced to punt on all seven possessions in the second half but the defense came through in a clutch.
The Huskies got the ball back with 41 seconds left and on their own 20-yardline. They got two first downs but couldn’t advance passed their side of the field as time expired.
Freshman Challen Faamatau had a great game on defense as he picked off quarterback Nolan McDonald on third down and returned it 36 yards for the score to put the Aztecs up 21-7 with 2:11 left in the second quarter. That was Faamatau’s second interception of the game.
He collected his first pick in the first quarter that set up the Aztecs on the Huskies’ 35-yardline. The Aztecs went with freshman DeMarco Corbin on three straight rushes and scored on a 3-yard run to put the Aztecs on the board and tie the game.
With 4:42 left in the second quarter and the game still tied at 7-7, the Aztecs picked up great field position after sophomore Kaelin DeBoskie (Salpointe Catholic HS) returned a punt to the Air Force Prep’s 38-yardline. After a couple of short plays and a Huskie penalty, freshman quarterback Jordan Mariteragi found freshman Larry Rembert for the 15-yard touchdown with 2:36 left in the half to make it 14-7.
The Huskies cut Pima’s lead seven points in the fourth quarter when McDonald scored on a 25-yard run with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter.
The Aztecs have a bye week next week and will play at Eastern Arizona College on Saturday, Oct. 7 in Thatcher. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
AFP 7 0 0 7 14
PCC 7 14 0 0 21
