Mounties survive with a late touchdown win

Written by Henry Montemayor
Photos by Vanessa Gonzalez
Burton Iosefa’s 3-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left in the game helped lift the Mt. SAC Mounties over the visiting Pasadena Community College Lancers, 35-30 Saturday afternoon at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Iosefa finished with 85 yards on 13 carries and the decisive touchdown.

“We were very fortunate to win the game,” Mounties head coach Rob Jastrab said. “The offense stepped up on the last drive and we were able to score and had to hold them on defense. My hats off to Coach Kuk and his staff and players, they played very well and had a shot to beat us.”

With the Mounties leading throughout most of the game, the Lancers took a 30-28 lead with a 30-yard field goal by Nick Luevano with 4:30 remaining in the game.

It was the Lancers’ defense, however, and not the offense that helped closed the gap on the score as they were able to return three of five interceptions for touchdowns, including two in the second half to narrow the score to 28-27.

Pasadena’s only offensive touchdown came in the second quarter when Johnathon Troast connected with Thomas Reuben with a 47-yard scoring pass to tie the score 7-7 in the second quarter.

Despite throwing 3 interceptions, Mounties quarterback Matt Faulkner also found the end zone four times, including two back-to-back scoring passes to Jessie Canada to put the Mounties up 21-13.

Canada praised PCC’s playmaking abilities: “I got to give it to Pasadena,” he said. “They did make plays, they read plays. A lot of the interceptions they made were good plays.”

The game began slowly, as both teams were unable to move the ball, with both teams committing turnovers and penalties. Mt SAC finally broke through to take a 7-0 lead with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter when Faulkner found sophomore wide receiver Tommy Darcey down the middle for a 58-yard touchdown.

The Mounties then had an opportunity to score again in the first quarter when PCC was not able to handle the ensuing kickoff and gave Mt SAC possession deep in the Lancers’ territory, but they were not able to capitalize as they fumbled the ball back to PCC.

“The most important thing is to get the ‘W’ to get the win, and we did that,” Jastrab said. “It’s time to move on and get better. It’s not a time to be complacent and be satisfied with where we are.”

“They’re a real good team,” Canada said. “If they continue to play better, and play like we are, we’ll see them again, we’ll see them in the playoffs.”

Mt. SAC (1-0) travels to Golden West next Saturday. Kickoff is at 6pm.