Here Comes the Bowl!
November 29, 2018Here Comes the Bowl
Exciting El Toro Bowl matchup coming up on Saturday
YUMA, Ariz.(November 29, 2018) – Year in and year out, the El Toro Bowl has brought in some of the top junior college football talent in the nation. This year’s version is no different, and two NJCAA Top 20 teams will square off on Saturday in Yuma at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The sixth-ranked Lackawanna College Falcons (10-0) travels to Yuma to take on the 19th ranked Arizona Western College Matadors (6-4).
Lackawanna’s main campus is based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the Falcons come in after running the table during the regular season. Lackawanna averages 40.7 points per game (fifth in the NJCAA) with a powerful ground game that racks up 222 rushing yards per game. The team uses a platoon, but all five of the top running backs average at least five yards per carry. Leading rusher Darius Brown (85 carries, 616 yards) averages 7.2 yards per attempt and has four touchdowns. Seven players have scored a rushing touchdown.
Meanwhile, Arizona Western played one of the toughest schedules in the country with six of its 10 games against teams that were ranked at the time of the game. The Matadors also have a punishing ground attack and average 196 rushing yards per game (16th in the NJCAA). As a team, AWC averages five yards a carry, and the team’s top three backs all have topped 400 yards on the season. Lead back Jadon Hayes (94 carries, 634 yards, five TD’s) averages 6.7 yards per attempt. The team has scored 70% of its touchdowns on the ground.
Lackawanna’s defense ranks second in the country by only surrendering 12.3 points per game. The Falcons also have the top rushing defense (64.4 rushing yards allowed per game) in the nation. Meanwhile, AWC’s defense is 13th in the country against the pass (149.6 passing yards allowed per game). Both defenses are opportunistic, with AWC forcing 19 turnovers and scoring three touchdowns and Lackawanna forcing 30 turnovers and scoring four TD’s.
On top of the game, the two teams will participate in a variety of activities throughout the rest of the weekend. On Thursday, the two sides will be at the official bowl press conference at the Best Western on Castle Dome Avenue. Friday, the two sides will do community service, sponsored by the Caballeros de Yuma, at two local schools. The teams will emphasize the importance of education and encourage students to stay in school. Friday night, the official bowl banquet will be held at Arizona Western College in the Schoening Conference Center. Saturday morning, there will be a tailgate at 11:00 a.m. near Veterans Memorial Stadium, and the game itself kicks off at 1:00 p.m.
The El Toro Bowl is one of the premier junior college bowl games in the nation, and it wouldn’t be possible without incredible community support. This year, the game was put on by a partnership between Arizona Western College, the Matador Athletic Association and the Arizona Western College Foundation. Sponsors of the game include 1st Bank Yuma, Bard Valley Date Grower’s Association-Medjool Date, Best Western, Burgers and Beer, the Caballeros de Yuma, Crouse’s Flat Top Grill, Date Pack, Del Outdoor/Sign Pro, Pizza Hut of Arizona, Republic Services, Sam’s Club, Sodexo, Sonoran Coffee and Food Services, Southwest Gas, Sun Rental & Sales, Texas Roadhouse, Walmart, Yuma International Airport and Yuma Regional Medical Center. Media sponsors include KYMA, KSWT, KECY, KESE, Monster Media and Power 98 Jams.
The El Toro Bowl has featured teams from all across the United States. Teams from nine states have played in the game since 2011. The game has been the NJCAA Football Championship twice (2011, 2016) since 2011.
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Contact(s): Lori Stofft Vice President for Advancement Arizona Western College Phone: (928) 314-9595 Email: lori.stofft@azwestern.edu |
Jerry Smith Athletic Director Arizona Western College Phone: (928) 344-7535 Email: Jerry.Smith@azwestern.edu |