MSJC wins big to celebrate Homecoming game, 63-14

Taliq Brown crosses the goal line with a touchdown reception in the first half. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

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The MSJC football team scored on its first offensive play on Saturday during its 2022 Homecoming game with College of the Desert and never looked back as the Eagles won easily, 63-14.

The Eagles kicked off to start the game and forced the Roadrunners to punt after just three plays. Once the Eagle offense took the field, Robert Coleman hooked up with Taliq Brown on their first play and 71 yards later MSJC led the game 6-0. Nathaniel Peterson, who had a strong game for the Eagles, added the extra point and it was 7-0 just two minutes into the contest.

Coleman and Brown would connect again with 5:38 to play in the opening quarter, this time on a 13-yard scoring pass to extend the lead to 14-0. Coleman then found running back Jaylen Magee out of the backfield and threw his third TD pass of the first quarter when Magee took it 81 yards for a score, making it 21-0 in favor of the Eagles.

Desert would get on the board with just 21 seconds to go in the first, before Magee answered with another touchdown, this time on the ground as he scored on a 28-yard run. David Vandenburg would round out the first-half scoring for MSJC as he caught a 2-yard TD pass from Coleman and when all was said and done in the first 30 minutes, the Eagles led 36-14 at the half.

The second half was more of the same as the Eagles outscored the Roadrunners 27-0 over the final 30 minutes. Coleman threw his fifth touchdown pass of the day early in the third quarter when he hooked up with Jevin Dorsey on a 28-yard strike, Magee would add another running touchdown as well. Peterson added a pair of field goals in the second half from 39 and 46 yards out. The Eagles’ scoring was capped off by a 45-yard fumble return by Tyrone Oloa.

Coleman finished his day completing 22 of 30 passes for 376 yards and the 5 TDs. Magee had a game-high 72 yards on the ground on 10 carries. Brown finished with 130 yards receiving on 5 catches while Magee added 106 yards. Dorsey caught a game-high 7 passes for 90 yards.

The Eagle defense was very good again, especially in the second half as they held the Roadrunners to just over 300 yards of total offense. Steven Bradshaw had a huge day as he made 14 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, and picked up an interception. Demond Young also had an interception for MSJC while Miron Hazem picked up a sack. In all, the Eagle defense made 10 stops for negative yardage in the game and forced four turnovers as both Oloa and Nathan Ortiz had fumble recoveries.

The annual Palms to Pines trophy was also at stake in the rivalry game and the Eagles kept possession of it with the victory. Saturday's game was the 55th playing of the contest that involved the annual trophy.

The Eagles improve to 7-1 overall with the win and took control of the American Mountain League standings at 3-0. Desert falls to 6-2 and 2-1. MSJC will be on the road Saturday for a game at Compton. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

 

Demond Young races past a fallen defender to pick up yardage Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Defense played a big part in the Eagles' Homecoming victory on Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

Tyrone Oloa returns a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

MSJC players celebrate with the Palms to Pines Trophy after the rivalry game. (Photo by Rick Rowell)