In a close game, the big plays make the difference.

And Mount San Antonio College quarterback Greg Valenzuela made those plays, passing for four touchdowns Saturday to beat the Falcons, 28-24 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut.

All of the Mounties’ (4-3, 1-1 in Mission North) touchdowns were the result of or set up by a major gain from scrimmage, including the game winner with 1:19 remaining in the game, when tight end Richard Carillo caught 3-yard pass.

That play was set up by a pass from Valenzuela to Aaron Hosack for 43 yards, giving Mt SAC a first down on the Cerritos 19.

Cerritos (5-2, 1-1 in Mission North), trailing 21-14, opened the fourth quarter with a 40-yard drive, culminating with a touchdown by Jermaine Whiten to tie the score.

The Falcons later took the lead with a field goal by Adam Sonntag, 24-21, with 3:51 remaining.

After falling behind, the Falcons moved the ball 35 yards to the Mounties 45.

But four straight incomplete passes by quarterback Mike Harrison, including a pass intended for Chris Chatman at the goal line that was broken up by Mt. SAC’s Terrence Medley, and a false start penalty put the Falcons at the 50-yard line with seven seconds remining for one final play.

Harrison’s pass was intercepted by Medley, and Cerritos had its second loss of the season.

1st quarter:14:02 CER Chris Chatman 30-yard pass from Mike Harrison (Adam Sonntag kick) -2 plays, 31 yards KEY PLAY: Cerritos recovery of fumble by Mt. SAC’s DeShaun McCullough on opening kickoff.

3:38 MSAC Dominic Longo 78-yard pass from Greg Valenzuela (Ryan Killeen kick)-First play from own 22 after Cerritos turned the ball over on downs.

2nd quarter:2:58 MSAC Jason Joslin 5-yard pass from Valenzuela (Killeen kick)-7 plays, 94 yards KEY PLAY: After Aaron Hosack caught a 27-yard pass from Valenzuela, a 51-yard run by Rashad Gunn gave Mt. SAC first and goal on Cerritos 8.

3rd quarter:8:36 CER Jermaine Lee 7-yard return of blocked punt (Sonntag kick)-Philip Perry blocked Dominic Milano’s punt

7:04 MSAC James Carter 44-yard pass from Valenzuela (Killeen kick)-5 plays, 85 yards KEY PLAY: With second down on own 15, Dominic Longo caught a 47-yard pass over the middle for a first down on the Cerritos 38.

4th quarter:13:25 CER Jermaine Whiten 1-yard run (Sonntag kick)-6 plays, 40 yards KEY PLAY: Charles Allgood returned intercepted pass 45 yards to Mt. SAC 40.

3:51 CER Sonntag 28-yard field goal-7 plays, 70 yards KEY PLAYS: Mike Harrison completed passes of 30 and 18 yards to Chris Chatman and Jermaine Whiten, respectively.

1:25 MSAC Richard Carillo 3-yard pass from Valenzuela (Killeen kick)-7 plays, 76 yards KEY PLAYS: Hosack caught a 43-yard pass from Valenzuela to give Mt. SAC a first down on the Cerritos 19. A pass interference penalty against Cerritos gave Mt. SAC first-and-goal on the Cerritos nine-yard line.

RUSHING: Cerritos-Josh Herrera 11-38 yards; Jermaine Whiten 10-36; Jeremy Bulrice 1-5; Mike Harrison 4-(-36). Mt. SAC-Rashad Gunn 9-59; Joey Gonzalez 4-11; James Robinson 6-5; Quincy Williams 1-2; Jamil Frazier 2-0; Greg Valenzuela 3-(-11).

PASSING: Cerritos-Mike Harrison 28-60-3-287. Mt. SAC-Greg Valenzuela 12-32-1-292; Robert Lewis 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING: Cerritos-Chris Chatman 8-142 yards; Jermaine Whiten 5-46; Randy Raphiel 4-25; Josh Herrera 3-20; Jason McMillan 2-21; Javier Martinez 2-13; Fausto Gonzalez 2-11; Andrew Harris 1-9; Jeremy Bulrice 1-0. Mt. SAC-Dominic Longo 4-128; Aaron Hosack 2-71; James Carter 2-57; Steve Levario 2-8; Jason Joslin 1-5; Richard Carillo 1-3.

PUNTING: Cerritos- Scott Mackey 6-202; Mike Harrison 2-78. Mt. SAC-Dominic Milano 9-270.

PUNT RETURNS: Cerritos- Chris Chatman 3-16 yards; Jermaine Lee 1-7. Mt. SAC-Joey Gonzalez 1-5.

KICKOFF RETURNS: Cerritos-Chris Chatman 1-21 yards; Jermaine Whiten 1-45. Mt. SAC-DeShaun McCullogh 4-54; Rashad Gunn 1-77.

INTERCEPTION RETURNS: Cerritos-Charles Allgood 1-45 yards. Mt. SAC-Terrence Medley 1-51; Andy Fibrow 1-6; Donte Nicholson 1-0.