College Football : Santa Monica Bowls Over Valley

Santa Monica College dealt Valley’s postseason bowl hopes a serious blow Saturday night, defeating the Monarchs, 48-13, in a Western State Conference Southern Division game at Valley.

Valley (6-3, 6-2) fell into a second-place tie with Santa Monica (5-4, 5-3) in the division. Both are 3-1 and trail leader Bakersfield by a game. Valley travels to Bakersfield (9-0) on Saturday.

The Monarchs got off to an auspicious start against Santa Monica as Reggie Smith took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. But it was mostly downhill for Valley after that as the Corsairs scored 48 unanswered points preceding an 8-yard touchdown run by Valley’s Brian West early in the fourth period.

Santa Monica quarterback Daryl Hobbs, who had thrown 2 touchdowns all season, had 5 against Valley and threw for 294 yards, completing 12 of 20. Wide receiver Vincent McGowens caught touchdown passes of 52 and 55 yards and finished with 5 receptions for 135 yards.

Valley quarterback Todd Studer, the WSC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against Pierce 8 days ago, was 8 of 21 for 108 yards and threw 2 interceptions.

Santa Monica’s Deon Thomas, the WSC’s top rusher, had 120 yards in 21 carries.