By John M. Sherrard
COVINA-The Mt. San Antonio College football team began where it left off in 2015 - with a win.
A big, lopsided, 40-0, shutout over visiting San Bernardino Valley College at Covina District Stadium Saturday night, gave the Mounties their seventh win in a row dating back to last season.
Leading the way for the Mounties was sophomore quarterback Anfernee Bruton (Lithonia HS, Atlanta, GA) passing for a game-high 209 yards (7 for 12) and three touchdowns.
The Mounties, ranked 6th in a preseason CCCAA state poll, took a 7-0 lead when Bruton ran the ball in from two yards out just under five minutes gone in the first quarter. Bruton stretched the lead to 14-0 when he found freshman wide receiver Brice Hoenisch (Chino Hills HS) for the longest pass-play of the game, a 57-yarder early in the second quarter.
"That (57-yard TD) was a great play-call by (offensive coordinator) coach Bobby Purcell and I knew I had it and I trusted my receiver," Bruton said.
"This year I'm more focused and have confidence with the players around me," said Bruton, who became the starter in the second game last season.
"We started off a little slow in the first half, but once we got it together in the second half we got it going."
Got it going they did as the Mounties reeled off 26 points and the stingy defense allowed only a net 33 yards on the ground. Sophomore defensive end Mosese Moala (Grant HS, Sacramento) had a game-high four sacks and a safety, while sophomore linebacker Kyle Woolard-Hilton (Desert Edge HS, Goodyear, AZ) added three sacks. The Mounties defense totaled nine for the game.
Sophomore kicker Brandon Gracia (Ayala HS) was a perfect five for five in extra points, including a 51-yard field goal.
Six receivers caught passes from Bruton, with sophomore wide receiver Kennedy Skyles (Lakewood HS) hauled in two for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Mounties sophomore running back Edgar Segura (Mendota HS) rushed for 46 yards on 11 carries.
"I'm proud of the way we played, but we still got to get better," said Mt. SAC coach Bob Jastrab, who is in his 12th year. "We've got to continue to improve, but once we settled down after halftime we came out with some fire.
"Obviously 40 points is a good win but you'll see the biggest improvement from game one to game two."
Mt. SAC will travel to Ventura, which defeated Santa Barbara, 47-40, for a 6 p.m. next Saturday.
