(Walnut, CA) An undefeated season came to an end for South No. 1 Seed Mt. SAC, as visiting No. 4 Riverside City College scored a late touchdown for a 51-48 win in the SCFA Semifinals on Saturday night, November 25.
After the Mounties took a 48-45 lead on a 35-yard field goal with 3:53 left in the game by sophomore kicker Mathias Uribe, RCC drove the ball 73 yards in nine plays for the go-ahead touchdown with just 27 seconds remaining, leading 51-48.
The extra point failed for the Tigers' kicker, giving the Mounties a last chance for a tying field goal, but the 57-yard attempt by Uribe fell short, ending the season for the 10-1 Mounties.
RCC advances to the SCFA So Cal Championship against Ventura, an upset winner over previously undefeated Fullerton, with a score of 27-24.
Mt. SAC, which built up a 38-24 halftime lead, was outscored 27-10 in the second half by the Tigers.
The Mounties were led by sophomore running back Nicholas Floyd, who gained a game-high 213 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 46, 50, and 35 yards. Sophomore back Samuel Green added 99 yards on six carries, including a 46-yard score.
Sophomores De'shon Thompson (17-yard TD reception) and Jordan Williams led in receiving with 54 and 50 yards, respectively, for the Mounties. Sophomore quarterback Alex Flores completed 12 of 20 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.
The Mounties quickly took a 7-0 lead in just two plays, as freshman running back Devon Miles returned the opening kickoff (following a penalty by RCC on the initial kickoff) 77 yards to the RCC 17. On the next play, Flores connected with Thompson for a 17-yard score.
On the Tigers' subsequent drive, they marched 80 yards to tie the score at 7-7.
The Mounties responded by reclaiming the lead at 14-7, courtesy of the first of Floyd's three TD runs. They maintained that lead until the last four minutes.
Following a 25-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Diego Esqueda that extended the lead to 17-7 late in the first quarter for the Mounties, the floodgates opened in the second quarter for both teams, resulting in a combined 38 points scored.
RCC narrowed the score to 17-14 with an 11-yard run, but Floyd's 50-yard score and a 24-yard interception return by freshman defensive back Juan Salas gave Mt. SAC a 31-14 lead with five minutes remaining in the half.
Two TDs and a field goal by RCC, along with Floyd's third score in the half, gave Mt. SAC a 38-21 lead at halftime. The Tigers' field goal came as time expired to end the half.
Riverside scored twice in the third quarter, with Green's 46-yard run sandwiched between those scores.
Mt. SAC maintained a 45-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers tied the game at 45-45 with 9:19 left in the final quarter on a touchdown pass by quarterback Jordan Barton, who amassed 524 yards (34 for 49) in the game.
The Mounties conclude their 2023 season as champions of the SCFA National Central League, looking ahead to the upcoming 2024 season next fall.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.