Campbell Finishes Pacific Football Season With Record Day
ATHERTON, Calif. – Quarterback T.C. Campbell (Fr., Kaimuki, Hawaii) rewrote the Pacific passing record books in the Boxers' season finale Saturday, helping Pacific keep up in a run-and-gun 44-42 loss to Menlo in football action at Conner Field.
Campbell completed 25 of 35 passes for a school record 406 yards and tied a record with five touchdowns as the Boxers (0-9) finished with 420 yards of total offense. The 406 yards and broke the long-standing record of 391 yards set by Pacific Hall of Famer Ralph Nickerson against the College of Idaho in 1972. The five touchdowns tied the mark set by Nickerson in the same game.
Jordan Fukumoto (Fr., Mililani, Hawaii) proved to be Campbell's favorite target, catching seven balls for 180 yards and three touchdowns. London Amorin (Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii) caught six balls for 126 yards and had the Boxers' other two tscores. Davis Jacobs (Fr., Tigard, Ore.) was the Boxers' leading rusher, carrying 17 times for 72 yards.
While the Boxers were getting it done in the air, the Oaks (4-7) did their damage on the ground, rushing for 331 yards and finished with 462 yards of total offense. Payton Bell carried 42 times for a total of 325 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Cruz Castillo completed 10 of 16 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Pacific took advantage of the opening kickoff to take their first lead of the season as Campbell marched the Boxers down the field in 10 plays. He completed the drive by finding Amorin for a 10-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 Pacific lead five minutes into the contest.
The Oaks struck right back on their first series when Castillo found Devin Young for a 15-yard touchdown pass to tied it at 7-7. After a three-and-out, the Boxers had their biggest defensive play of the season when Bryan Mills (Fr., Imbler, Ore.) picked off Castillo and ran it back 65 yards for the touchdown. The play is the second longest interception return in school history.
Menlo tied the game on their first series of the second quarter with bell running 24 yards for the touchdown. Campbell needed just one play to put the Boxers back on top, finding Fukumoto on a 70-yard strike that made it a 21-7 game with 8:34 to go in the frame.
Menlo responded with two big plays that gave the Oaks the lead for good. Bell tied the game when he broke off a 43-yard touchdown run. The Oaks then forced a punt on the next Pacific series, which Jaronimo Wright returned 61 yards to the Pacific 8-yard line. That set up a short eight-yard run for Bell that gave the Oaks for good at 27-21. The Oaks added a safety to go into the break with a 29-21 lead.
After missing 14-yard field goal to open the second half, the Oaks came up with a fumble on the Boxers' first play from scrimmage. They quickly parlayed the gaffe into a seven-yard scoring run by Bell for the 36-21 lead. Campbell responded with two big passes on the next series, finding Amorin for 50 yards before finding Fukumoto for a 32-yard touchdown pass to close within 36-28 with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
Pacific converted an onside kick into another possession, but the Oaks stunted the drive when Beau Bussani intercepted Campbell at the Menlo 10-yard line. Bell followed by breaking off a 90-yard touchdown run on the next play that put Menlo ahead 42-28 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Campbell found Fukumoto again for a big play in the closing minutes of the quarter, connecting for a 38-yard touchdown pass to bring the Boxers within 42-35. Menlo opened the fourth quarter by forcing the second Pacific safety of the game, but Campbell continued to throw, finding Amorin for a 22-yard pass with 1:17 to go to bring the Boxers within a field goal at 44-42.
Pacific tried an onside kick on the following kickoff, but could not convert a second time around. Menlo then proceeded to run off the clock for the victory.
Tim Hastie (Fr., Auberry, Calif.) led Pacific defensively with nine tackles. Josh Beck (Sr., Prosser, Wash.) and Mills each had eight tackles, with Mills coming up with his third interception of the season. Bussani led Menlo with 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. R.J Rivera finished with 10 tackles.
