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Dons Hold on Late to Defeat Moorpark 51-36
SANTA ANA, CA - The Santa Ana College football team wrapped up its final non-conference game with a 51-36 victory over visiting Moorpark College at Santa Ana Stadium. The Dons improve to 3-1 heading into Southern Conference play while Moorpark dropped to 0-4 on the season.
Eric Pesante opened the scoring for the Dons on their first possession when he capped off a six play, 61 yard drive with a eight yard touchdown run to put the Dons up 7-0.
Moorpark was awarded its first points of the night on a safety when the ball was snapped over Jordan Thomas' head and out of the back of the end zone. The play came after Moorpark pinned the Dons on their own six yard line on a punt.
Just over two minutes later, the Raiders claimed their first lead of the game when Ian Shultis connected with Justin Bradley from 17 yards out to put Moorpark up 9-7.
After the Dons forced a fumble deep in Moorpark territory, Thomas threw his first touchdown pass of the game to Andrew Zamora from seven yards out to give the Dons a 14-9 lead.
SAC extended its lead to 21-9 before half time on a 15 yard touchdown pass and run from Thomas to Johnny Privitelli. Pesante opened the second half with a three yard score to put the Dons up 28-9.
Billy Henley put the Dons up 34-9 in the first minute of the fourth quarter with a 12 yard interception return for a touchdown as the Dons scored 27 unanswered points.
Chris Gant broke the Dons streak less than three minutes later when he scored on a four yard touchdown pass from Shultis. The Dons blocked the extra point attempt and Aaron Martinez returned the attempt for a two-point conversion. It was Martinez' second two-point conversion return of the season.
Rap Dantic scored on a 44 yard touchdown run to put the Dons up 44-15 just minutes before Gant and Shultis connected again for a 55 yard touchdown pass to cut the score in half at 44-22.
Dylan Conley-Garcia scored the Dons final points of the game on a four yard touchdown run putting SAC up 51-22. Moorpark was able to score two more times on two Shultis touchdown passes, one to Andre Garcia and the other to Gant for his third touchdown.
The two scores pulled the Raiders within 15 points but they were unable to recover their onside kick attempt and the Dons held on for the victory.
Thomas finished the game with two touchdown passes on 16-of-27 passing for 205 yards and no interceptions. Jaron Hytche led the Dons rushing with 75 yards on 10 carries while Pesante added 65 yards on 13 carries and two scores.
Defensively, the Dons kept Moorpark from gaining positive rushing yards as the Raiders finished the game with negative eight yards on 25 carries while the Dons rushed for 287 yards on 52 carries.
Next: Saddleback at Santa Ana in the Inaugural Hall of Fame Game
Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 pm at Santa Ana Stadium |
