The Mt. San Antonio College Mounties proved why they are the top-ranked team in the region with a commanding 41-20 victory over the Citrus College Owls at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, September 28. With this win, Mt. SAC improves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
From the opening whistle, the Mounties set the tone with a powerful offensive display. Quarterback Jack Benson launched a stunning 83-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Grant just five minutes into the game, giving Mt. SAC an early 7-0 lead. A few plays later, Benson connected with Pierce Brown for a seven-yard touchdown, pushing the s core to 14-0 before the end of the first quarter.
Mt. SAC continued to push in the second quarter with Benson rushing in for a 10-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0. However, Citrus fought back, with Jamahl Wilson finding the end zone on a five-yard run. The Owls added another score with a one-yard plunge from Tobin O'Dell bringing the game to 21-13 at the half.
Tension mounted in the third quarter as Citrus scored again with a four-yard pass from O'Dell to Sean Persson, narrowing the gap to 21-20. But Mt. SAC's relentless ground game took over for the rest of the game. Running back Devin Miles was a standout performer, racking up 141 rushing yards and scoring once, while Samuel Green Jr. added two touchdowns to seal the deal. Benson ended the night with two touchdown passes and efficient ball distribution, completing 12 of 16 attempts for 203 yards. Grant finished with three catches for 106 yards, consistently finding ways to create separation and move the chains.
The Mt. SAC defense was a formidable force throughout the game, consistently applying pressure and shutting down key plays from the Citrus offense. Darrell Tripline led the charge with 10 total tackles, including five solo stops. Juruan Hardin made his mark with nine tackles and a crucial sack that disrupted Citrus's momentum. Kaho Tuihalamaka contributed two sacks, while Brayden Hapner secured an interception. Additionally, Dmitri Pierre and Kalim Mikhail showcased their versatility, combining for several tackles for loss and keeping their opponents rushing attack in check.
The Owls, now 2-2 overall, put up a good fight, but struggled to maintain consistency against Mt. SAC. O'Dell finished the game with 162 passing yards and a touchdown. The Mounties are set to compete against San Bernardino Valley College on Saturday, October 5, at 6:00 PM.
Follow Mt. SAC Football on Twitter @mtsacfootball or Instagram /mtsacfootball/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
