Walnut, Calif. – In a rare Thursday night game, the Mt. SAC Football Team came out ready to play – and they put on a show. The Mounties rolled past Long Beach with a 47-7 victory in an important conference matchup. Both teams entered with matching 3-1 conference records, but by the final whistle, Mt. SAC had pulled ahead. The win boosts the Mounties to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the National Northern Conference, while the Vikings drop to 3-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Mt. SAC came out strong in the opening quarter, immediately setting the tempo with a well-balanced opening drive. After advancing 55 yards in seven plays, Kenneth Junger Porta put the Mounties on the board with a 22-yard field goal to make it 3–0. The defense quickly forced a stop, and the offense went back to work.
Quarterback Daunte Bell capped a nine-play, 48-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 9–0 after the extra point attempt was no good. Moments later, Bell struck again—this time through the air—connecting with Damari Wiggins for a 16-yard touchdown pass that pushed the score to 16–0 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second period, the Mounties continued to dominate possession and field position. Running back Aiden Ramos powered his way into the end zone from one yard out, finishing a 10-play, 61-yard drive that extended the margin to 23–0. Just two minutes later, the special teams unit delivered a highlight-reel moment as Bejohn Turner broke through the line to block a Long Beach punt, scooping it and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown to give Mt. SAC a commanding 30–0 halftime lead.
The Mounties didn't slow down after the break. Midway through the third quarter, Ramos continued his big night with a seven-yard touchdown run, wrapping up another sustained 57-yard drive to make it 37–0.
In the fourth quarter, Joseph Gutierrez added a 20-yard field goal, and minutes later, Jamel Sly finished off a short-field opportunity with a four-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 47–0. Long Beach finally broke through late in the game when Imari Conway found the end zone on a five-yard run, avoiding the shutout and closing the scoring at 47–7.
Mt. SAC's defense was on fire from start to finish, holding Long Beach to just 177 total yards and a mere 20 rushing yards on 15 attempts. The Mounties racked up 46 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and a sack by Daylon Storey. The secondary also made its mark, capitalizing on Long Beach's mistakes with interceptions by Blake Hiligh, Dakota Mendoza, and Kanyee Childress.
Kickers Kenneth Junger Porta and Joseph Gutierrez were steady throughout—combining to go 2-for-2 on field goals and 5-for-6 on extra points.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Total Offense: Mt. SAC 481 | Long Beach 177
- Rushing Yards: Mt. SAC 337 | Long Beach 20
- Passing Yards: Mt. SAC 144 | Long Beach 157
- First Downs: Mt. SAC 29 | Long Beach 11
- Time of Possession: Mt. SAC 38:27 | Long Beach 21:33
KEY PLAYERS:
- Aiden Ramos: 18 carries, 149 yards, 2 TDs
- Daunte Bell: 11-of-26 passing, 113 yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD
- Damien Smith: 3 receptions, 48 yards
- Bejohn Turner: Blocked punt returned for touchdown
- Blake Hiligh: Interception, 27 return yards
- Dakota Mendoza: Interception, 4 tackles
NEXT UP:
The Mounties host their last home game of the regular season on Saturday, November 1, against Allan Hancock (3–4, 2–2) at 4:00 PM. Mt. SAC will be celebrating sophomore night c and honoring veterans in attendance. Come out to Hilmer Lodge Stadium and support your Mounties!
STAY CONNECTED:
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.
