​Churchill’s Kalobe Rond (right) celebrates a fourth quarter touch with teammate Timothy Mizell that put them ahead 33-21 during Thursday evening’s annual Gucci Bowl game versus Clark at Heroes Stadium. (Robin Jerstad/For the Express-News)
Looking for its first win of the season, Churchill needed someone to make a play in the fourth quarter.Jayden Garcia made a couple of them.The senior quarterback passed for 202 yards and five touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter, as the Chargers defeated Clark 33-28 in the 2026 Gucci Bowl on Thursday at Heroes Stadium.”He’s a student of the game,” Churchill coach Nate Shaw said of Garcia. “He understands situations. He understands our offense and our schemes really well. A lot of times, what we do, I wish I could take credit for it, but the credit goes to the offensive staff, and a lot of it goes to Jayden.”He has a lot of input on play calls, and he gets us in the right situation often.”On Churchill’s opening drive, Garcia found junior Kareem Aitssi streaking wide open for a 37-yard passing touchdown. After a quick Clark three-and-out, senior Kalobe Rond set up Churchill inside the Cougars’ red zone with a 63-yard rush that would’ve scored if not for Rond being clipped on the heel. Garcia capped off the drive one play later with an 8-yard scoring strike to sophomore Joell Cooper to extend the lead to 14-0.Clark got right back in the game with a deep throw from junior Rocky Orozco to senior Elisha Johnson for a 73-yard touchdown.Cougars sophomore linebacker Connor Cribbs picked off Garcia on the ensuing Churchill possession, setting up Clark in Chargers territory. Orozco made brisk work of the Churchill defense with a 34-yard pass to senior Ryan Aguirre, and a 7-yard passing touchdown to senior Logan Hood, knotting up the game at 14.
Clark’s Elisha Johnson runs against the Churchill defense during Thursday evening’s annual Gucci Bowl game at Heroes Stadium. (Robin Jerstad/For the Express-News)
With 5:57 left in the half, Churchill senior Mason Cortez intercepted Orozco deep in Chargers territory. Garcia then led Churchill on a nine-play, 65-yard drive that chewed up exactly five minutes on the game clock. The Chargers pulled ahead once again as Garcia hit junior Taner Basci on a seam route for a 12-yard touchdown.”Our coaches do a good job of preparing us throughout the week,” Garcia explained. “My offensive line gives me all the time I need, and we have playmakers.”Both offenses sputtered coming out of halftime. It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Orozco tied the game with a 22-yard passing touchdown to junior David Sem on fourth-and-16.Needing a response, Garcia and the Chargers’ offense marched from their own 29-yard line into the Cougars’ red zone, where Garcia connected with senior Henry Kalisky on a corner route for a 14-yard touchdown.Garcia notched his fifth and final passing touchdown on a 7-yard strike to senior Kalobe Rond as Churchill took a 33-21 lead with 4:14