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Despite some sloppy first-quarter play, the Lancers defeated College of the Desert on Saturday night, 34-14, at Robinson Stadium with the help of freshman starting quarterback Nick Owens and wide receiver/returner Reuben Thomas.This win now has Head Coach Dennis Gossard standing alone as the all-time wins leader in PCC’s football program history at 53 wins. Gossard surpassed R. Frank Baker’s record of 52 wins with PJC’s football program.

The game started off shaky for the Lancers, who now boast a 4-0 record and a No. 5 ranking in the state regional poll, according to PCC’s athletic website.

With several miscues on the field that had receivers not running the correct routes and the ball sailing from Owens into an open field, the coaching staff began to show frustration.

Coach Gossard wasn’t concerned though, saying that the team “settled down and did a good job.”

The offense gained momentum for its productive second quarter after Thomas’s 80-yard punt return for a touchdown with a little more than four minutes in the first quarter.

Thomas, who had not scored any touchdowns so far this season, knew it was time for him to step up.

He went on to score two more first half touchdowns: a 19-yarder and a 67-yard pass from Owens that he caught one-handed along the sideline.

“I knew coming into this game that I didn’t have any touchdowns and I had to get back on track,” said Thomas. “So it felt pretty good.”

“He finally broke out and did what we expect him to do,” said Coach Gossard about Thomas’ performance. “Hopefully that will continue because we need him to perform like that. He’s a great player and we need him to perform great and make plays like that continually.”

The Roadrunners (1-3) were outscored by the Lancers 28-7 by halftime.

College of the Desert made one last run for it with two and a half minutes left in the game with a 34 yard pass touchdown pass from quarterback Demetrius Hall-McLean to wide receiver Jordan Calhoun, but the attempt was futile as it was the Roadrunners’ second and final score of the game.

All five of the Lancers’ quarterbacks saw playing time, but the standout was once again Owens who completed 18 of 30 passes for 334 yards, 114 of which came from connections with Thomas.

Defensive tackle Kealii Latuselu and safety Omar Smith each had interceptions while outside linebacker Cordell Robinson led the pack with eight tackles and a sack.

Outside linebacker Kimball Niumatalolo, safety Chris Tyson and defensive end Pone Faleofa each had sacks for losses of six, seven and six yards, respectively.

Though the game had just been won and Thomas was still standing on the field, he was already thinking about the next game.

“This game is over with,” Thomas said. “Next week we begin preparation for our game against Ventura.”

The Lancers’ game this Saturday at Robinson Stadium at 6 p.m. against Ventura will be the last of PCC’s three game home stand as well as the last game before beginning conference play against the National Southern Conference.

Wide receiver/punt returner Reuben Thomas runs past College of the Desert kicker Nathan Krasniak for an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown, one of his three in the Lancers’ 34-14 win over Desert on Saturday night at Robinson stadium. (Natalie Sehn Weber)

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