The MSJC football team opened the 2023 season on Saturday at Mt. SAC and struggled to get the offense going as they fell to the Mounties 23-7 in Walnut.

The Eagles came up big on defense on the opening drive of the game as they held Mt. SAC out of the end zone on a fourth and goal from the three yard line.  The Eagles continued to keep the state's number 3 ranked Mounties off the scoreboard the rest of the first period as Mt. SAC missed a filed goal and then Quentin Evans came up with a big interception for MSJC in the end zone with under 3 minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Mt. SAC would take the lead with 11:22 to play in the second period on a 13 yard touchdown pass and with the extra point led 7-0.  The Mounties would tack on a second TD of the quarter on their next possession, but Carsten Mamaril blocked the extra point for the Eagles to hold the score at 13-0.  Mt. SAC would add a field goal before halftime to lead 16-0 at the break.  

The Mounties would score one more time early in the fourth to push the lead to 23-0, before the Eagles finally got on the board with 32 seconds left to play when quarterback Zach Zella scored on a five yard run.

The Eagles finished the day with 235 total yards of offense they only netted 12 rushing yards for the game.  Hayden Lara was 14 of 26 passing for 134 yards while Zella finished 10 of 26 for 89 yards.  Elijah Simley had a team high 7 receptions for 66 yards, Mykai Skinner had 5 catches.  On defense Mamaril finished his day with a pair of sacks and a pair of pass break ups.  Evans had a team high 9 total tackles to go along with his interception.  Tyrone Oloa had 8 tackles in the loss for the Eagles.

MSJC will return to action on Saturday September 9th when they play their first game in their new stadium on the Menifee Campus.  Kick-off Saturday night is set for 6 pm.  Tickets for Saturday's game must be purchased on line through Hometown Tickets.  MSJC Football Tickets