The MSJC football team could not overcome a slow start as they lost for the first time this season on Saturday night on the road at San Bernardino Valley 63-35.
The Eagles fell behind 14-0 after the first quarter and trailed by as much as 42-7 before making a game of it in the second half. The Eagles first touchdown of the day came with 6:50 to play before half when Corey Maddox scored on a three yard pass from quarterback Brett Virgil that cut the lead to 21-7. Virgil would throw his second TD pass of the day just before halftime when he connected with C.J. Sullivan from 17 yards out with 5 seconds to go in the half. That score cut the lead to 42-14 at the half.
MSJC had their best chance of the night after two early third quarter touchdowns, one on a 45 yard run by Virgil, and the other on Sullivan's 2 yard TD reception cut the lead to 42-28. MSJC then pushed the ball down inside the Wolverines 5 yard line with a chance to cut the lead even further before a couple miscues and a quarterback sack kept the Eagles from scoring. From that point SBVC retook control of the game and reeled off 21 straight points to put the game out of reach. MSJC would add one more score with 28 seconds left in the game when Sullivan caught his third touchdown pass of the night from Virgil to make the final score 63-35.
Virgil ended his night going 23 of 60 passing for 355 yards with 4 TDs and no interceptions. Virgil was also the team's top rusher with 50 yards on 21 attempts. Sullivan finished his huge night with 8 receptions for 113 yards and 3 scores. Micha Lowden added 5 catches for 97 yards. Kelly Coleman and Justin Wilson led the defensive effort with 6 tackles a piece and Nicolas Naranjo had an interception for the Eagles.
The loss drops the Eagles to 6-1 on the season and 1-1 in American Mountain League play while San Bernardino improved to 6-1 and 2-0. MSJC will be back in action this coming Saturday when they host Antelope Valley in their 2018 Homecoming game. Saturday's game at Carl Quandt Stadium is set to kick off at 1 pm.