Walnut, Calif. – As expected, the dominant Mounties cruised to a 44-14 victory over Long Beach in front of a home crowd at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, November 9. With the win, Mt. SAC improves to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play, while Long Beach drops to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game got off to a quick start as Shawn Lievense returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, leaving Mt. SAC with a 6-0 lead after a failed extra point attempt. Just minutes later, De'shon Thompson capped a 39-yard drive with a 9-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 13-0.
In the second quarter, Jacob Bonilla nailed a 40-yard field goal to give the Mounties a 16-0 advantage. The offense continued to click as Noah Fuailetolo connected with Elijah Crook on an 86-yard drive for a 3-yard touchdown pass, making it 23-0 by the half.
In the second half, the Mounties kept the pressure coming. Devin Miles broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 30-0 midway through the third quarter. Long Beach responded with a touchdown of their own when Jett Peddy hit Matthew Dragich for a 7-yard score, cutting the deficit to 30-7. Mt. SAC answered quickly with a 75-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Jack Benson, pushing the lead back to 37-7.
Long Beach found the end zone again early in the fourth quarter when Peddy connected with Dragich on a 61-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-14. But the Mounties sealed the game with a late 5-yard touchdown pass from Benson to Nicolas Ceballos, making it 44-14 and putting the game out of reach for the Vikings.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Total Offense: Mt. SAC outgained Long Beach 390 yards to 306.
Rushing Attack: Mt. SAC's ground game dominated with 291 rushing yards. Devin Miles led the charge with 185 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 carries. Jayson Cortes added 100 yards on 20 attempts.
Passing: Mt. SAC's Jack Benson threw for 56 yards and 1 touchdown, while Noah Fuailetolo added 43 yards and 1 touchdown. Long Beach quarterback Jett Peddy threw for 306 yards, completing 22 of 27 passes with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Receiving: Mt. SAC's Elijah Crook caught 2 passes for 30 yards and 1 touchdown, and De'shon Thompson had 19 yards on 2 receptions.
Defense: Mt. SAC's defense was relentless, recording 5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Juruan Hardin led the way with 7 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Long Beach's defense was led by Travis Davis, who had 8 tackles.
Special Teams: Mt. SAC's Shawn Lievense provided a highlight-reel moment with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown.
UP NEXT:
The top-ranked Mounties will face No. 4 Golden West on Saturday, November 16, in the final home game of the regular season. Golden West enters the game with an 8-1 overall record and a 6-0 mark in conference play, tied with the Mounties atop the National Central Conference standings. The winner will claim the division title. In addition to the high-stakes matchup, the Mounties will honor their sophomores and show appreciation for faculty, making it a night to remember. Come out and support your Mounties as they take on their toughest challenge of the season!
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
