Warriors to Battle Cerritos as They Anticipate Pony Bowl Bid

The seventh-ranked El Camino football team, winner of five games in a row, will end the regular season Saturday in a 7 p.m Mission Conference northern division game at Cerritos.

The Warriors (6-1-1, 7-1-1) are undefeated in their division and are almost certain of a bid to the Dec. 3 Pony Bowl.

El Camino has been led all season by a balanced offense that should have little difficulty against struggling Cerritos (0-8, 1-9).

Despite being ranked No. 1 in the preseason, the Falcons have lost eight games in a row and are in last place in the division.

“We aren’t looking past anyone,” said El Camino Coach John Featherstone. “I know they’re going to be fired up for us.”

Scott Yessner and Frank Dolce will share quarterback duties against Cerritos. Yessner will start and Dolce, who is recovered from an ankle injury, will step in later.

In last week’s shutout of San Diego Mesa, Yessner completed 13 of 22 passes for 203 yards and Dolce 8 of 12 for 125 yards. It was El Camino’s first shutout since 1982. “They’re both playing very well now,” Featherstone said. “It’s like having two good relief pitchers.”

Harbor Coach Chris Ferragamo wishes he was in that position since the Seahawks are without a “real” quarterback. They’ve lost two to injuries and recently placed tailback Marvin Person in that spot.

Person completed only 4 of 15 passes for 45 yards in last week’s 24-12 loss to Southwest, the Seahawks’ seventh consecutive loss. Person will start in Harbor’s (1-9, 1-7 in the Western State Conference) season finale against Santa Barbara at 7:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara is in fifth place in the WSC northern division out of six teams. Harbor is last. The Vaqueros (3-6, 3-5 in the WSC) like to pass, especially since sophomore quarterback Mark Whelan, who led the league in passing last year, is back from an injury.

Tight end Chris Harris complements Whelan’s arm. The sophomore had five receptions for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns in last week’s 35-28 loss to Glendale.

“This is our homecoming,” Ferragamo said, “and we want people to see us play at our best. This week we’ll really go for it.”