The MSJC football team out lasted a second half surge from Grossmont on Saturday to win their third straight game as they defeated the visiting Griffons 42-35.
The Eagles scored the first points of the game with 4:34 to play in the first quarter when Semaj Wren capped off an 8 play 53 yard drive with a one yard TD run. MSJC would fail on the extra point attempt, but held the lead after the first period 6-0. Grossmont would come back to take the lead with just over 8 minutes to play in the first half as they got their first points of the day on a 17 yard pass play, they added the extra point and led 7-6. The Eagles would come back to grab the lead when quarterback Bret Virgil scored on an explosive 86 yard run as he weaved his way down the field and picked up some key blocks from his wide receivers to make the score 12-7 with 3:36 to play in the first half. After a two point conversion MSJC extended their lead to 14-7. The Eagles would make one more dramatic statement before halftime as they went 98 yards on 7 plays to score again before halftime with just 9 seconds remaining. The big play of the drive was a 59 yard pass from Virgil to Erick Ellison. The Eagles punched it in on Virgil's 6 yard run and MSJC led at the half 20-7.
Grossmont seized the momentum to start the second half as they scored twice in the third period to take a 21-20 lead on a pair of TD passes by Jacob Siegfried. The Eagles would reclaim the lead once again with just over one minute to play in the third when Wren scored his second touchdown of the day as he went in from 3 yards out capping a 44 yard drive. Another two point conversion gave MSJC a 28-21 lead headed to the fourth quarter.
The Griffons struck first in the final period as they tied the game up at 28 all just 35 seconds in with a 5 play 75 yard drive. The Eagle offense then put together a methodical 13 play 75 yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock before Wren scored his third TD of the day on a one yard run to give MSJC the 35-28 lead. Then it was the Eagle defense's turn as Ryan Marty picked off a Grossmont pass near midfield to give MSJC the ball back. Wren would score his fourth touchdown on the day four plays later from 32 yards out and MSJC led 42-28. Grossmont would find their way into the end zone with 25 seconds left in the game, but C.J. Sullivan recovered the ensuing on side kick to ice the victory for the Eagles.
Virgil ended the game going 18 of 41 passing for 294 yards, he also ran for 105 yards on 12 carries. Wren, who scored four touchdowns, had 100 yards on 17 carries. Micah Lowden ended the day with 89 receiving yards to lead the Eagles while James Phillips had a game high 7 receptions. Franklin Shearer had a team high 8 tackles to lead the defense.
MSJC is now 3-0 on the season while Grossmont fell to 0-3. The Eagles will return to action on Saturday when they host Glendale at Carl Quandt Stadium starting at 1 pm.