Pierce Gets Outpointed on Road by Hancock, 52-43

SANTA MARIA —  It’s fairly tough to win a game, Pierce College found out, if your defense allows 328 yards and 31 points in the first half.

The second half wasn’t much better for the Brahmas, who allowed 541 yards in a 52-43 Western State Conference Northern Division loss Saturday night to Hancock.

Reggie Etheridge, who rushed for 138 yards in 24 carries, and Tahki Bannister, who had 120 yards in 20 carries, found plenty of holes in the Pierce defense.

Hancock quarterback Mick Sitarski completed 17 of 31 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns.

Pierce’s Dave Muir threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns.

Pierce (1-6, 1-5), which trailed, 31-22, at halftime, saw any possibilities evaporate when Sitarski connected with fullback Mark Diggs on a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes.

Trailing, 52-29, in the fourth quarter, Muir picked apart Hancock’s prevent defense for a pair of late-game touchdown passes.

Muir was Pierce’s leading rusher with 16 carries for 30 yards.

Etheridge, who ran for one touchdown, and Bannister, who had two, had a combined 195 rushing yards in the first half for Hancock (5-2, 4-2).