SBVC (2-2) took a ten point lead early in the second quarter, but let that slip away just before halftime, then regained the lead late in the fourth quarter and couldn't hold on as the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (2-2) took the game late, 30-24.
Freshman quarterback Daniel Epperson (Phelan Serrano) played well in his first start, completing 15 passes on 34 attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown at Mt. San Jacinto. The Eagles pass rush was ferocious, sacking Epperson six times, but they couldn't stop the running game as sophomore running back Kendrick Dorn (Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos) torched Mt. San Jacinto for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Angel Delgado (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) grabbed four solo tackles and an interception on the afternoon, returning the pick for 15 yards as the SBVC defense completely stuffed the Mt. San Jacinto running attack, limiting the Eagles to 49 total rushing yards on 32 attempts.
SBVC sophomore kicker/punter Cody Madsen (Redlands East Valley) maintaining two roles on special teams, he made all three of his extra point attempts and had six punts for 199 yards, averaging 33.2 yards per punt, including one punt inside the 20 on the afternoon.
SBVC did open up the scoring in the first quarter with a 37 yard field goal by Madsen to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Then with 11:22 left in the first half, Dorn fought his way into the end zone on a ten yard carry and with the extra point, SBVC had a 10-0 lead.
The Eagles responded two minutes later with a score of their own, but after missing their extra point attempt, found themselves four points down, 10-6. That deficit was erased with 30 seconds left in the half, when Mt. San Jacinto scored on a 20 yard touchdown pass, to give the Eagles a 13-10 lead going into halftime.
After a slow start for both teams, the action was fast and furious as each teams exchanged scores in the second half, culminating in a final minute touchdown to win the game.
SBVC took their opening drive of the second half and regained the lead as Dorn darted in from one yard out to give the visitors a 17-13 lead. The Eagles came roaring back as they took their next possession and kicked a 35 yard field goal to get them back to within one, 17-16.
With 4:02 left in the third quarter, Mt. San Jacinto connected on a 67 yard pass play to give the home side a 23-17 lead. The score remained that way until the final minutes of the game.
SBVC would reclaim the lead with 5:34 left in the game, when Epperson connected with sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Gibbs (Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos) for a 16 yard touchdown pass giving SBVC a one point lead, 24-23. The key to the drive was the over four and a half minutes of time that was chewed off of the clock.
Mt. San Jacinto had their backs against the wall on their very next possession, a fourth and long awaited, and right after the punt, SBVC was flagged for an illegal substitution, giving the Eagles a first down and minutes later they connected on a seven yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left in the game, giving them the lead for good, 30-24.
Penalties played a huge role in how this game was decided as SBVC committed 16 penalties for 130 yards and Mt. San Jacinto had 12 penalties for 109 yards.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information
