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Phoenix Falls to Glendale

This story was wriiten by Jose E. Garcia of The Arizona Republic and was published in the September 29, 2002. To read The Arizona Republic online, click here.

Although Saturday's Glendale College-Phoenix College game turned into a rout after the first two quarters, some spectators were still on the edge of their chairs as the fourth quarter started.

Glendale had an opportunity to pull off a rare feat if it scored on its first offensive play of the fourth quarter. The Gauchos already had accomplished that in each of the first three quarters.

But a red-zone pass by second string quarterback Adam Wilson went incomplete, thus sucking out the only suspense of Glendale's 58-0 shutout of visiting Phoenix.

"That was a complete effort on all aspects of the game except for our (two) missed extra points," Glendale coach Joe Kersting said.

Phoenix College quickly figured out it would be a long night. Its first play from scrimmage resulted in an interception thrown quarterback Hunter Walden.

Glendale, which is averaging 384 yards a game, rolled up 355 yards of offense in the first half en route to a 37-0 halftime lead. Glendale quarterback Jeremy Copeland completed 12 of 19 for 220 yards and three touchdowns - in the first half.

Wide receiver Daniel White had 127 yards receiving.

The Gauchos held Phoenix to a total 216 offensive yards.

It took Glendale (4-0, 2-0) just seven minutes to jump out to a 21-0 lead with the help of two Phoenix turnovers, which the Gauchos turned into 13 points.

"We had a disastrous beginning," Phoenix coach Gary Cook said. "You can't do that against a talented team like Glendale."

Phoenix (1-3, 0-2) crossed into Glendale territory only four times.