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Dons Hold Off Late Long Beach Rally to Win 45-44
SANTA ANA, CA - A week after needing a 14-point, fourth quarter comeback the Santa Ana College (SAC) football team almost allowed the opposite to happen in its' 45-44 win over visiting Long Beach City College.
The Dons (3-2) took a 45-31 lead with 3:32 remaining in the game on a 32-yard field goal by Dillan Freiberg before Long Beach (1-4) began its' late rally.
It only took six plays and 59 seconds for the Vikings to cut the Dons lead to 45-38 when Willie Bobbitt caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Craighead.
After recovering the ensuing onside kick, Long Beach wasted no time marching down the field once again. This time it only took four plays and 52 seconds for the Vikings to pull within one at 45-44 on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Craighead to Emeka Agamewga.
However, the visiting Vikings decided to go for the win and lined up for a two-point conversion. Craighead was unable to handle a low snap and the Dons defense swarmed him in the backfield to deny the attempt and secure the win.
The Dons, who took an early 14 point lead in the first quarter on a pair of Andrew McDonald touchdown passes, had to battle back from a second quarter deficit.
McDonald's touchdown passes went to Ario Winston from 14 yards out and Jacob Smith from four yards out. Following the Smith touchdown, the Vikings scored 21-straight points.
Bobbitt and Craighead connected for a four yard touchdown pass for Long Beach's first touchdown before Jerrami Jackson scored on a two-yard run to tie the game at 14-14.
It was Bobbitt and Craighead who once again found each other, this time for a 20-yard pass-and-catch touchdown to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at 21-14.
The Dons answered late in the first half with a quick four play, 66-yard drive capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Davion Orphey. With the score, the two teams went into the locker room tied at 21-21.
Less than four minutes into the second half, Duke DeLancellotti scored on a 26-yard run to retake the lead for the Dons at 28-21. The Vikings answered late in the third quarter with a 26-yard field goal to cut the lead to 28-24.
McDonald opened the fourth quarter with a two-yard touchdown run to extend the Dons lead to 35-24. However, the Vikings answered three minutes later with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Craighead to Sean Morris to cut the lead to 35-31.
The Dons came back later in the quarter with a one yard touchdown pass from McDonald to Jacob Broaddus to take a 42-31 lead before Freiberg converted his 32-yard field goal to set up the Dons 14-point lead.
McDonald finished the game 26-of-39 passing for 354 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target was Winston who finished the game with eight receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, the Dons were led by Terrance Holzendorf who carried the ball 14 times for 88 yards. Defensively, the Dons were led by Elai Eteaki with nine tackles followed by Avery Lynch and Anthony Daniel who recorded eight tackles apiece.
NEXT: Santa Ana at Golden West, Thursday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. |
