(Covina, CA) The Mt. SAC Football Team raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead and came away with a 31-7 National Conference Central Division victory over Palomar at Covina District Field Saturday night (Oct. 19).

With the win, the Mounties improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference.

"This was a good win to start conference play," Mt. SAC Football Coach Bob Jastrab said. "It's a new season and our offense had some big plays.

"The defense played great, holding Palomar to just seven points. They have been averaging nearly 30-points-per-game.

Quarterback Zack Rangel returned after missing two games and threw for 238 yards (15 for 33) and a touchdown.

Nine different players caught passes from Rangel, led by Jonathan Schofield with four catches for 93 yards.

Schofield also ran back a punt 98 yards for a touchdown, while running back Malaki Thompson ran for two TD's (15, 4 yards).

After Gabriel Dunkle kicked a 41-yard field goal at the 9:39 mark of the opening quarter, two more scores, within two minutes of each other, gave the Mounties a 17-0 lead. 

Schofield's long punt return for a TD came with 2:08 left in the period. 

"Schofield had a great game," said Jastrab, of the sophomore wide receiver. "That was a heads-up play by Schofield when Palomar batted the ball into play (after the punt) at the two-yard-line and went 98 yards for the score. That was just as we planned it!"

Just two minutes later, Palomar went three-and-out and punted to the Mt. SAC 26-yard-line. On the third play from scrimmage, Mt. SAC wide receiver Terrell Bromer scored on a 63-yard pass from Rangel for the 17-0 lead.

Thompson scored the first of his two TD's midway through the second quarter, building up a 24-0 lead for the Mounties.

Palomar finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter, to trail, 24-7.

The Mounties ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 9-play, 70-yard drive, culminating with a four-yard TD run by Thompson.

The Mountie defense accounted for two interceptions (Levon Barnett and Isiah Love), three sacks (Connor Helsius, Michael Irenze and Inoke Katoa) and held the Comets to 57-yards rushing. 

Mt. SAC will travel to El Camino for a conference game Saturday (Oct. 26). Game time is 1:00 pm.

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.