(Escondido, CA) Palomar College, with a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, defeated Mt. SAC 38-35 in the first game of National Division Central Conference action Saturday night October 13 at Escondido High School.
With the loss, the Mounties fall to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.
The Mounties had a late lead, 35-31 on an 11-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Jonathan Schofield, but Palomar (4-3, 1-0) marched down the field for the winning score with just 1:25 left in the game.
Mt. SAC quarterback Steven Nava threw for 334 yards (28 for 44, 2 Int.) and four touchdowns, while running back Rachaad White ran for 89 yards on 12 carries. Running back Hykeem Massey had 48 yards on seven carries.
Nava's favorite receiver was Schofield with 105 yards on six receptions. Schofield also ran for a 1-yard TD.
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams traded touchdowns with two each in the second quarter and a 14-14 tie at the half.
The Mounties took a 7-0 lead on Schofield's 1-yard touchdown run, the first of his three scores in the game, with 12:00 left in the half.
Palomar, however, took a 14-7 lead with two TDs in just under three minutes.
Nava got the Mounties even at 14-14 with a 31-yard TD pass to Damian Alloway (2 catches, 34 yards) with 2:42 remaining in the half. The touchdown was set up by a 34-yard reception by wide receiver Chris Jackson 4 catches, 48 yards).
Early in the second half the Mounties took their second lead of the game on a short 3-play drive, culminating with a 49-yard TD pass from Nava to Schofield for the 21-14 score.
Palomar then took a three-point lead, 24-21 on a touchdown and a 25-yard field goal with 4:00 left in the third quarter.
The big blow of the game came on a 98-yard interception of Nava by the Comets as they stretched the lead to 10 points, 31-21 early in the fourth quarter.
After a 53-yard kickoff return by Alloway set up good field position for the Mounties, four plays later Nava threw a 40-yard TD pass to Gaston Bouchereau to trail, 31-28.
Mt. SA took a late lead, 35-31 after the third touchdown reception by Schofield, but the Comets drove the length of the field for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 1:25 left in the game.
The Mounties will host El Camino College next Saturday October 20 in a National Division Central Conference game. Kickoff is 6:00 pm.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.