MPC wide receiver Ronald Saxton takes a catch upfield after shaking off a tackle from Los Medanos defensive back Josh Burris in the first quarter on Saturday in Monterey.
It's still early, but it was a big one.
Coming off a pair of season opening blowout losses, Monterey Peninsula College got some much needed energy back in Saturday night's home opener, knocking off a solid Los Medanos (Pittsburg) squad, 33-26.
For the Lobos (1-2), it could be d?j vu. Last year, MPC started the season off with two losses. They then ran off seven wins in a row.
"It's a good reward," Lobos head coach Mike Rasmussen said. "We persevered. We worked hard in practice and this is a product of that. It was a total team effort."
Things looked shaky when the Mustangs (2-2), who came into the contest ranked No.18 in Northern California, took a 20-13 lead midway through the third quarter.
But MPC immediately answered the call, getting a 61-yard kickoff return from Nicholas Alarcon that eventually led to a one-yard touchdown pass from Cole Houston to Cody Hendricks that cut the Mustangs lead to 20-19.
Later, at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lobos took their first lead of the game when Alarcon scrambled into the end zone from seven yards out.
And it was then that MPC had to pass its gut check.
Following Alarcon's TD run, which gave MPC a 27-20 lead, Los Medanos put together a 69-yard scoring drive that was capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Shawn Vasquez. The Mustangs, however, decided to go for the two-point conversion to take the lead. They faiedl, as Lobos Ofa Hautau and Kyle Todd stuffed Vasquez short of the goal
line.Still nursing a 27-26 lead, MPC got some breathing room when Alarcon scored on a four-yard TD run with 4:27 remaining to make it 34-26.
But the Mustangs again didn't quit. In the final seconds, Los Medanos got down to the Lobos' 40-yard line. They'd be shut down when on a third-and 10 when Michael Behr was sacked by James Karasek. On fourth down, Behr was again put under pressure, enough so that his last gasp desperation pass was thrown after he'd already crossed the line of scrimmage.
"It was a great effort. We came back with a lot of heart," said Houston, who had a huge night, passing for 240 yards and running for another 93. "There was some talk about how we started last year 0-2 and then went on a streak. But this is a different team. We want our own identity."
Houston, who hails from Oregon, and Seaside alumnus Ronald Saxton were a lethal combination. Saxton caught seven passes for 87 yards. Leading the MPC ground game was Alarcon, who finished the evening with 104 yards on 16 carries.
"Our offensive line was able to fire off and we were able to control the line of scrimmage," Houston said. "That, and the defensive stands, was the difference."
Defensively, the Lobos got a pair of interceptions from Andre Cornell and another pair of sacks from linebacker Nathan Delsid.
Los Medanos' Behr also had a big night, completing 23 throws for 338 yards. Vasquez ran for 182 yards.
A sign that thingscould change for MPC came on Los Medanos' first possession of the game. The Mustangs reached the Lobos' one-yard line but on a fourth and goal were left empty handed.
Now the Lobos, who next travel to Reedley, just need to reel off another six wins in a row to match last year's feat. Or maybe not.
"One game at a time," Rasmussen said with a grin.
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