Herrera, Defense Lead Warriors to Comeback Victory at Canyons

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. --- Freshman quarterback Hunter Herrera helped spearhead a 27-26 comeback road victory for No. 17 El Camino College at No. 7 College of the Canyons on Thursday night at Cougar Stadium.

Herrera replaced starting quarterback Tyler Karen late in the first quarter with the Warriors trailing 17-7. The freshman would finish out the game and help the Warriors overcome the double-digit deficit as he went 11-for-17 for 163 passing yards and three touchdowns.

The key play came with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter as Herrera connected with running back Jaden Moore in the middle of the field for a 29-yard touchdown. Moore caught the ball in the open field with no defender near him and he cruised into the end-zone to put the Warriors ahead 27-26, the team's first lead since scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.

The defense took care of the rest as they held the Cougars to just nine points in the final three quarters and just three in the second half while recording four interceptions and two sacks.

On the Cougars last drive, the Warriors did catch a break as the Cougars had a 49-yard touchdown pass called back thanks to an offensive pass interference penalty on Joseph Saenz. The penalty pinned the Cougars back to their own 37-yard line and then Jaggar Tavai sacked quarterback Logan Scarlett for a loss of eight yards, putting the hosts in a 3rd-and-26 from their own 29.

On fourth down, Scarlett's final pass of the night was picked off by Elijah Brown, his second pick of the night to seal the win and help the Warriors stay undefeated in National Northern League play.

Moore finished with just the one catch but did lead the team with 90 rushing yards on 13 carries. Takim Raye Brown Jr. led all Warriors receivers with 66 receiving yards on three receptions with one touchdown. Manuel Reynoso led the team with four catches and posted 48 receiving yards with one score.

The Warriors are now 3-0 in National Northern League action and sit alone atop the standings with Ventura scheduled to play on Saturday with a chance to move into a tie with ECC with four games left in the season.

Thursday's victory marks just the second time the Warriors have defeated the Cougars in six total meetings dating back to 2004. It's ECC's first win against the Cougars since 2011 and first ever win at Cougar Stadium in four meetings in Santa Clarita.

The Warriors will return home to host Santa Barbara on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Murdock Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m