Football:
The top-ranked JC football program in the state dominated their visitors from Citrus on the scoreboard and the stat sheet.
But with nine minutes or so to play, a Citrus linebacker sacked MSAC quarterback, Jack Benson, to force a punt.
The Owls would get the ball trailing 28-20.
However, the Owls’ player had some words for Benson after the sack, and it drew a flag.
It also cost Citrus the ball.
A few minutes later, Samuel Green rumbled into the south end zone from one yard out and the Mounties would claim a 41-20 victory in the National-Central Conference opener for both programs.
Mt. SAC looked to run away early, as they took a 21-0 lead.
Juwan Grant and Pierce Brown caught 83-and-7-yard TD passes from Benson, respectively, for a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Benson would extend the Mounties advantage to 21-0 on a 10-yard TD run.
To their credit, Citrus pulled to within 21-13 just before the half on TD runs by Jamahl Wilson (5 yards) and Tobin O’Dell (1 yard).
The Owls got as close as 21-20.
With 4:35 remaining in the third quarter, Sean Persson caught a 4-yard TD pass from O’Dell.
But the Mt. SAC defense would keep the Owls out of the end zone for the final 19:25 of Saturday’s showdown in Walnut.
Green scored on a 4-yard run with 58 seconds left in the game.
As mentioned, Mt. SAC dominated in a number of statistical categories including first downs (30-11), total offense (472-256), time of possession (34-26), passing (253-162) and rushing (219-94).
With that said, arguably the biggest differential in favor of the Mounties was third-down efficiency.
MSAC converted 7-of-14 or 50-percent, while Citrus got one first down in 13 opportunities (8-percent).
Neither school could be too happy with penalties.
They were flagged 11 times each for a combined 194 yards.
Benson completed 11-of-15 for 191 yards, the two TD’s and one interception.
Devin Miles led all rushers in carries (23) and yards (139).
Miles had a 1-yard TD run with five seconds left in the third quarter to give the Mounties a 28-20 lead.
Green finished with 62 yards on nine carries and the two scores.
Grant had three catches for 106 yards and one TD.
De’shon Thompson caught a game-high six passes for 44 yards.
Nicolas Ceballos (3-for-30) and Pierce Brown (3-for-26 & one TD) combined for six receptions for 56 yards.
O’Dell completed 15 of 22 for 162 yards and the TD pass to Persson.
Jamahl Wilson (11-for-59 & one TD) and Hakim Haliburton (11-for-38) combined for 98 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Wilson also caught four passes for 17 yards.
Julian Borrayo had a 67-yard reception for the Owls.
Brayden Austin caught three passes for 25 yards.
Phillip Bangura (10 tackles), Hunter Corbin (9), Ryder Cadam (8) and Kyle Ferm led the Citrus defense with 34 tackles and two sacks.
Christian Sampson and Bangura had interceptions for the Owls ‘D.’
Darrell Tripline led the Mounties with nine tackles, while Juruan Hardin (8) and Dmitri Pierre (6) combined for 14 tackles.
Brayden Hapner picked off a pass.
Up next: Both programs will be in action next Saturday.
The Mounties travel to SBVC (0-3, 0-1); and the Owls welcome Golden West (3-1, 1-0).
To view a photo gallery by Josh Thompson, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook
Box Score:
C: 0-13-7-0-(20)
M: 14-7-7-13-(41)
Scoring:
M: Juwan Grant 83 pass from Jack Benson (Matthew Fidone kick)
M: Pierce Brown 7 pass from Jack Benson (Jacob Bonilla kick)
M: Jack Benson 10 run (Jacob Bonilla kick)
C: Jamahl Wilson 5 run (Ruben Jimenez kick)
C: Tobin O’Dell 1 run (kick failed)
C: Sean Persson 4 pass from Tobin O’Dell (Lucas Froemel kick)
M: Devin Miles 2 run (Jacob Bonilla kick)
M: Samuel Green 1 run (Matthew Fidone kick)
M: Samuel Green 4 run (Matthew Fidone kick)
Records: Citrus (2-2, 0-1); Mt. SAC (4-0, 1-0)
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