Robinson Sets Receiving Record as Warriors Top Palomar in Beach Bowl

TORRANCE, Calif. – For 12 years, the El Camino College single-season receiving record belonged to Marcel Reece. After Saturday afternoon's Beach Bowl, that record would finally fall.

Wide receiver Stephon Robinson had himself a great day offensively and earned Beach Bowl Most Valuable Player honors as the Warriors defeated Palomar 28-21 at Murdock Stadium.

Robinson made six catches for 170 yards, averaging 28.3 yards per catch en route to MVP honors. He finished the season with 62 catches for 1,274 receiving yards, eclipsing Reece's stellar 2005 season when he made 49 catches for 1,128 yards for the Warriors, a team that defeated Riverside in the National Bowl.

Saturday's victory marked the first bowl game for the Warriors since 2011 when they faced off with Mount San Antonio in the National Bowl, a semifinal game in the state championship playoffs. The victory in Saturday's Beach Bowl marked ECC's bowl win since 2009 when they defeated Saddleback, 31-28, in the American Bowl.

Along with Robinson's day, the Warriors got a great performance from offensive MVP Cole Klayman, who went 14-for-24 for 265 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 2,309 passing yards and a 182.75 efficiency rating.

For the Comets, sophomore linebacker Chandler Wachholz earned defensive MVP honors after leading all tacklers with 14 tackles including three solo stops. He also had three tackles for a loss and forced three fumbles on the day.

The Warriors overall had trouble holding on to the ball, fumbling seven times on the day and losing five of them. But the defense helped offset some of those giveaways with three interceptions of their own including a couple in the red-zone.

Mike Mason came up with the biggest interception, picking off Comets quarterback Matt Romero on the ECC 6-yard line.

At one point, the Warriors led 21-0 but the Comets came back to make it a seven-point game and had a chance to tie the game. The Comets got the ball back with 1:07 left in regulation at their 28 but the Warriors defense held on with Shawn Richard recording the Warriors' fourth sack of the contest to end the game and secure the win for ECC.

The Warriors finish the season 6-5 while the Comets wrap up at 5-6.