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.
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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.
Cerritos Mt. SAC First Downs-Total 20 10 -by rushing 4 1 -by passing 12 8 – by penalty 4 1 Rushes – Net Yards 26 – 44 25 – 66 Yards Passing 287 292 Passes Att-Comp-Int 60-28-3 32-12-1 TOTAL OFFENSIVE PLAYS – YARDS 86 – 331 58 – 358 Interception Returns – Yards 1 – 45 3 – 57 Punts – Yards 8- 280 9 – 270 Punt Returns – Yards 4- 23 1 – 5 Kickoff Returns – Yards 6 – 66 5 – 71 Penalties – Yards 12 – 90 12 – 107 Fumbles – Lost 1-0 3-2 3rd Down Conversion 7 – 20 4 – 15 4th Down Conversion 0-2 0-0 Red Zone Conversion 2-3 2-2