The MSJC football team built a big lead and then had to hold on down the stretch as they defeated Palomar Saturday night at HCN Bank Stadium in their 2024 Homecoming game 36-29.
The Eagles fell behind quickly 7-0 on the first play from scrimmage on the night as the Comets connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass. MSJC would quickly rebound to score the next 33 points. Akillis Cosio helped turn the tide for the Eagles when he blocked a Palomar punt with just over 10 minutes left in the opening period. Four plays later Logan Gonzalez connected with Koa Apana on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give MSJC their first points of the game. Cosio struck again on the Comets next possession as he picked off a pass and returned it 29 yards for another Eagle touchdown. The Eagles held the 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
The opening drive of the second quarter culminated in the Eagles pushing the lead to 20-7 after a methodical 13 play drive was capped off by a 10-yard TD pass from Gonzalez to Jonah Sellers. MSJC finished off an impressive first half with another late 2nd period drive as they covered 57 yards in 12 plays to add another touchdown before halftime. Gonzalez threw his third touchdown pass of the day with just 45 seconds left in the half to Jackson Weng giving the Eagles a 26-7 lead.
The Eagles appeared to put the contest out of reach with 5:50 to go in the 3rd quarter when Gonzalez found Christian Kretz on a 52-yard scoring strike to push the MSJC lead to 33-7. The Comets responded with a late third and early fourth quarter touchdown to cut the lead to 33-21 and stay within striking distance. MSJC put their final points of the night up with 3:56 to play in the game on a 31-yard field goal by Jared Kuchcinski. Palomar continued to fight back as they scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion with 1:33 left to cut the MSJC lead to 36-29. The Comets then made a successful onside kick to get the ball back. Palomar drove the ball all the way to the MSJC 19-yard line with under a minute to go before Greg Jackson came up with a game saving interception for the Eagles at the 5-yard line.
The Eagle defense finished the night with 4 interceptions as Chase Shackleford added a pair of picks to go along with Jackson and Cosio's. Nate Frankfather and Lakion Fowler both had 5 total tackles in the win and Brye Lighon added a sack. Gonzalez finished his night completing 27 of 36 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns. Donte Sams was his top target on the evening as he made 9 catches for 77 yards. Kretz ended the night with 3 receptions for 65 yards and Weng made 4 grabs for 37 yards.
The Eagles improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play with the victory. MSJC will finish the season with a pair of road games in the next two weeks. This Saturday the Eagles travel to El Cajon to take on Grossmont College and on Saturday November 16th the team will travel to Saddleback.