By John M. Sherrard
(Covina, CA) At 9:26 of the fourth quarter, Kicker Andrew Rodriguez booted himself into the Mountie Record Books with his sixth consecutive field goal of the game. Rodriguez's foot led the Mounites to a 32-18 win over National Division Central Conference rival El Camino College, Saturday night at Covina District Field.
The 27-yard field goal broke P.K. Wiggins 33-year-old record which was set against Citrus College in 1984.
Rodriguez, now leads the state with 11 field goals this season. He is the only kicker in the state to connect six in a game since 2012. (No prior individual game records before 2012).
Mt. SAC upped its overall record to 5-2 and 1-1 in conference with three games remaining.
Quarterbacks Jaiave Magalei (11 for 18, 197 yards, TD) and Richard Stammetti (7 for 13, 108 yards) along with freshman running back Jamario (Tre) Elliot led the offensive attack. Elliot ran for a game-high 118 yards on 16 carries, leading the eight running backs who played in the game.
Sophomores Darrian Hambrick (5 catches, 102 yards) and Cameron Coleman (2 catches, 71 yards, TD) were the top two receivers for Mt. SAC.
Rodriguez gave the Mounties a 3-0 lead, with 5:24 left, in the opening quarter with a 20-yard field goal.
After El Camino tied the game, 3-3, with a field goal of its own four minutes later. Rodriguez connected for two more, in the second, from 34 and 27-yards and a third consecutive field goal early in the third quarter, from 41 yards, for the 12-3 lead. The 41-yarder was the second longest of the season for Rodriguez.
Coleman extended the lead to 16 points, 19-3, with a 44-yard touchdown reception, his third of the year, with 9:14 left in the third.
Rodriguez tied the long-standing Mountie record of five in a game midway through the quarter with a 36-yard field goal for the 22-3 lead.
A long TD pass (77 yards) and a 2-point conversion by El Camino closed the lead , 22-11, on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Rodriguez answered with his record-breaker, a 27-yarder, with 9:26 left in the game.
Each team traded rushing touchdowns with Hykeem Massey, running in a 7 yards TD late in the game for a final 32-18 score.
Next week the Mounties will travel to Chaffey College to take on the Panthers, October 28th at 6:00 pm.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.