On Saturday, Sept. 2, the Mounties opened their gates and welcomed back football fans as they allowed students and Walnut residents free entry into Hilmer Lodge Stadium for the Mt. SAC season opener.
The Mounties started their season off on the right foot after a physical and imposing victory against the San Jacinto Eagles in a game full of flags and other setbacks.
The game came to a pause, with the Eagles suffering an injury on the first play from scrimmage. This was a foreshadowing of things to come, as the game continued slowly throughout the evening with several penalties and delays of games called throughout the contest.
Early on, the Mounties displayed their strength from the beginning with a 27-yard pickup and another big gain to the 12-yard line, done by sophomore running back Nicholas Floyd (17) in the first quarter. Floyd would rack up 108 yards on 13 carries while averaging 8.3 yards per attempt.
The Mounties sophomore wide receiver Dedrick Taylor-Akins (5) scored the first touchdown of the game during the second quarter off a 13-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Alex Flores (15).
With the Mounties in the lead, Mt. SAC added another touchdown from sophomore running back Samuel Green (25) who fought his way in for a 2-yard run. A 30-yard field goal from kicker Diego Esqueda (49) would cap off the second-quarter offensive onslaught.
The score at halftime, 17-0.
It was clear in the second half it was now a defensive battle. With San Jacinto down three scores, the Mounties were continuing to hunt the Eagles quarterback. Exactly what freshman defensive lineman Reggie Johnson (40) did as he sacked the freshman quarterback Hayde Lara (10).
Mt. SAC’s defense would have a hellacious performance finishing with seven sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, an interception and 18 pass breakups.
As the fourth quarter rolled along, it was time for the Mounties to secure their win. Another touchdown from Green gave him 135 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
With only 3:22 left in the final quarter, the action came to a stop when the players had to rush off the field with the sprinklers malfunctioning.
This stoppage did not slow the Mounties down. With 1:48 left in the game, sophomore safety Juan Salas (2) made a massive tackle to force a Eagles punt.
With the game finally coming to an end, San Jacinto finally scored their first and only touchdown of the game with 33 seconds left on the clock.
Final score, 23-7.
Salas, who had six tackles and six assists in the game, said that the game went well for the team as a whole but there are many areas for improvement.
“As a team, we are trying to go to the state championships and get a ring this season,” he said.
Championship or bust. It’s always been the mantra.
This victory is just the start for the Mounties this season. Their next home game will be on Sept. 16 against the Allan Hancock Spikes.
