It wasn’t pretty, but the 20th-ranked Pima College football team was able to extend its winning streak to four by beating Glendale 28-10 Saturday night at Kino North Stadium.
The victory was the Aztecs’ second over Glendale this season; they won 30-13 when they met Sept. 15.
“We had a bad game tonight, but, you know, the nice thing is good teams on bad days still can find a way to win,” Pima coach Jim Monaco said. “We still really did well. We’ve just got to get these freshmen to understand how important it is to play like this and to handle things.”
Glendale took advantage of a sluggish Pima in the first quarter and struck first on a 37-yard field goal.
Pima got just one first down in the first quarter, but recovered in the second. On their first scoring drive, the Aztecs moved the ball well enough for six first downs before freshman Jalen Olamua-Tuivaiave scored on a rushing play.
The Aztecs weren’t done. Hall intercepted a pass on the Gauchos’ ensuing drive; two plays later, quarterback Brooks Ringer connected with Jon Cole in the end zone. The Aztecs led 14-3 at the half.
In the third quarter, Glendale attempted a 45-yard field goal, which was blocked by Christian Maddox and recovered by sophomore defensive back Derik Hall, who ran 65 yards for a touchdown.
“We started to pick it up,” said Hall, a Sahuaro High School graduate who transferred to Pima from Northern Arizona. “We started to go upwards and started getting turnovers and started talking more.”
The Aztecs scored their final touchdown on a 51-yard pass by Ringer to Larry Rembert toward the end of the third quarter.
Pima’s players admitted after the game that they entered Saturday’s game a little complacent, in part because of what they’ve accomplished so far. Last week’s upset of No. 4 Scottsdale earned the Aztecs some headlines — and a national ranking.
“We’ve got to come into every game like it’s a championship game, like we’re playing the top team in the nation,” Hall said.
Pima will play at Mesa next week coming back home for the final two home games in program history.
The Aztecs haven’t been able to win at Mesa while Monaco has coached at Pima.
“They’re going to be mad, they’re going to chirp and it’s going to be a battle up there,” Monaco said. “If our guys don’t start out better than we did tonight, we’re in trouble.”
