(Walnut, CA) A thrilling overtime touchdown by Mt. SAC sophomore tight end Bryce Pierre in the second overtime gave the Mounties a 34-28 win in the Patriotic Bowl Saturday night (November 27) at the new state-of-the-art Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
Each team failed to score in the first overtime, but Mt. SAC (8-3) scored on its next possession and held off Fullerton (6-5) for the win on its last possession.
The bowl game was the thirteenth for the Mounties, with only one loss through the years.
Mt. SAC was led by freshman quarterback Alex Flores with (30 for 46, 1 Int.) with 295 yards and three touchdowns. He was named MVP for the game.
Chandler Galban (17-33, 3 Int.), who was named offensive player for Fullerton, threw for 218 yards and a touchdown.
Other offensive leaders for Mt. SAC were running back Keoua Kauni with 71 yards on 13 carries and sophomore wide receiver Jordan Erby with 86 yards on nine receptions and a touchdown along with wide receiver Lucas Moore (81 yards).
Fullerton opened the scoring in the first quarter with 3:53 left in the opening quarter, on a 53-yard touchdown reception by Braedin Huffman …..from quarterback Chandler Galban…. for the 7-0 lead.
Mt. SAC scored the next three touchdowns to take a 20-7 lead at the half.
The initial score came on the first of three touchdown passes by Flores to Erby for 20 yards, early in the second quarter and the 7-7 tie.
The second TD came on the ensuing Fullerton possession with freshman defensive back Mason White intercepting a Fullerton pass and he ran it back for a 43-yard score and the 13-7 lead. The extra point was no good.
White was named player of the game-changing interception and four solo tackles in the game.
The third touchdown came on a 1-yard run by sophomore running back Yisrael Stephens with 5:54 left in the half.
With a touchdown in the third and two in the fourth quarter, Fullerton took a 28-20, lead with 6:01 left in the game.
Mt. SAC came back with a long 15-play, 73-yard drive, culminating with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Flores to freshman wide receiver Jaden Allen, to tie the game, 28-28, with just 1:03 remaining in regulation.
Stephens run up the middle for the two-point conversion.
In the first overtime, neither team scored. Mt. SAC sophomore linebacker Tyrin Brooks intercepted a pass in Fullerton's first possession and Mounties kicker Noah Carlton missed on a 19-yard field goal attempt.
Mt. SAC took the first possession in the second overtime and scored on a pass to Pierre, for the 34-28 lead.
The final play of the game was a pass from Galban to wide receiver Tobi Sonaike, who caught the ball, but was just out of bounds.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
