By John M. Sherrard
(Covina, CA) The Mt. SAC Football scoring machine was on full display Saturday night at Covina District Field as the Mounties, ran, passed and scored multiple times on defense en route to a second consecutive lopsided win in a nonconference game. This time Ventura College (1-1) fell victim to the Mountie (2-0) juggernaut, 55-29.
The Mounties exploded for 27 unanswered points out of the gate in the first quarter and never looked back.
Leading the charge was sophomore quarterback Jaiave Magalei, who threw for 220 yards (16 for 31, 2 int.) and four touchdowns.
A trio of sophomores receivers led the Mounties with Cameron Coleman hauling in four catches for 74 yards, followed by Darrian Hambrick (4 catches, 63 yards, 2 TDs) and Emetrious Scott (3 catches, 60 yards, TD).
Rushing for a game-high 60 yards on six carries was freshman running back Jamario "Tre" Elliot. Freshman back Hykeem Massey added 55 yards on nine carries.
Highlighting the first quarter were two field goals (45, 47 yards) by freshman kicker Andrew Rodriguez, a pair of TD receptions to Hambrick (33, 11 yards) and the first of three scores by the defense.
Sophomore linebacker Jordan Otey-Wilson finished the first-quarter scoring with a recovered fumble for a touchdown for the, 27-0 advantage.
Mt. SAC led, 34-7, at the half and built it up to 48-29 after three quarters.
The two remaining defensive TDs for the Mounties came in the third quarter as sophomore defensive end Noa Aluesi ran the ball for an 8-yard fumble recovery for a score. Noa followed that up with an interception for 24 yards before he lateraled it to sophomore defensive end Paula Hafoka, who ran the remaining 20 yards for the 48-29 lead at the end of the quarter.
The fourth passing TD came midway through the final quarter on a five-yard reception by sophomore receiver Brice Hoenisch from Magalei for the 55-29 final.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.