MSJC wins second straight conference championship

Jaylen Magee hurdles a defender to pick up extra yardage Saturday.  (Photo by Rick Rowell)

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The Mt. San Jacinto College football team used a 14-0 third quarter on Saturday to earn a 27-17 comeback victory over visiting Pasadena City College and wrap up their regular season unbeaten in league play as they earned their second straight conference title.

MSJC finishes the season with an overall record of 9-1; they were 5-0 in American Mountain League play. The expectation is that the Eagles will be awarded a birth in the American Division Championship Bowl for the second consecutive year. The official announcement will be made in the next few days.

On Saturday, the Eagle offense was stuck in first gear during the first half as the Lancer defense proved to be a test for a team that entered the contest averaging over 40 points per game. The Eagles fell behind 3-0 late in the first quarter after a 35-yard PCC field goal. MSJC would earn their first points of the day with 7:56 to play before the half when Jaylen Magee capped off a 9-play, 54-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. A failed extra point left the score at 6-3.

Just before halftime, the Lancers retook the lead as they put together a 14-play, 87-yard drive that took 6:38 off the clock and ended with a 1-yard TD run by Caleb Gardner. MSJC blocked the extra point and sent the game to halftime at 9-6.

The Eagles finally took the lead for good with 2:23 to play in the third period when Magee scored his second touchdown of the day on a 7-yard run. This time the extra point was good and MSJC led 13-9. On the ensuing Pasadena possession, Naisir Morrow recovered a Lancer fumble on their 10-yard line to set up a short field. It took just two plays for MSJC to score as Robert Coleman hooked up with Jevin Dorsey on a 4-yard touchdown pass that extended the lead to 20-9.

Pasadena would make one more run at it as they scored with 11:26 to play in the game to cut the lead to 20-17, but the Eagle defense stiffened the rest of the way and MSJC finally put the game away with 1:15 to go when Magee scored his third TD of the day on a 5-yard run after a key 9-play, 83-yard drive took over four and a half minutes off the clock.

Coleman finished his day throwing for 175 yards and rushing for a team-best 74. Magee had 43 total yards on the ground and 36 receiving yards to go along with his three touchdowns.

On defense, another huge game by Steven Bradshaw led the way as he finished with 12 total tackles. Quentin Evans had his best game of the season as he made 11 tackles and Demond Young made 9 stops. Nathan Ortiz had a sack for the Eagles as they made 7.5 total plays for negative yardage.

The league championship was the second in a row for the Eagles, who last year shared the title with Pasadena and Grossmont. Saturday also avenged a 28-26 loss last season to the Lancers. MSJC will be making its third straight Bowl appearance.

Adan Rodriguez (68) leads the way for quarterback Robert Coleman. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Jaylen Magee finds an open field for a big gain on Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

Quarterback Robert Coleman passes downfield for a completion on Saturday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)