Mt. SAC Football scored a 31-7 win over Palomar College in their first National Conference Central Division game of the season to start the league 1-0, with a 4-2 overall record for the season.
During the first quarter of the game, the offenses were slow. Mt. SAC scored a field goal on their first drive, and then both teams stalled. Star receiver for the Mounties, Dakota Warfield went down with a leg injury during the first quarter and did not return. The injury led to Mt. SAC using various different receivers throughout the game, including wide receiver Terrell Bromer.
A 98-yard punt return by wide receiver Jonathan Schofield sparked an explosion for the Mounties with Bromer scoring a massive touchdown on the next drive to end the quarter 17-0.
“You’ve got to be ready and be prepared for injures, even me,” Bromer said.
That was Bromer’s first touchdown of the season.
From the second quarter until the end of the game, it was a defensive showdown by the Mounties. Defensive back Levon Barnett’s presence was immediately felt during the second half.
Palomar College scored early in the second half, but when they marched down the field to score again, a huge end zone interception by Barnett ended the drive. The next possession for Palomar was already past midfield and they were down 24-7 because of a touchdown run by running back Malaki Thompson.
This was Thompson’s first of two touchdowns in the game. On a fourth down play, it was a huge pass breakup by Barnett. The ball was in the receiver’s hands and Palomar would have been spotted five yards away from the end zone. That play by Barnett sealed the drive and the game for the Mounties. The Mounties won 31-7.
Mt. SAC’s Head Coach Robert Jastrab said about the teams first home win, “It feels great. First conference game of the season, basically it’s a new season. If you win your conference, you go to the playoffs. That’s our number one goal.”
The Mounties had many injuries during the game but many players stepped up.
“Different guys are stepping up each and every game so I’m pleased with the effort, we got a lot of guys banged up that we got to get healthy so we gotta keep grinding it through,” Jastrab said.
The Mounties are on the road Saturday, Oct. 26 for the next conference game at El Camino.
The following photos are from the Palomar game:
