Lobos clinch share of conference title
Hold off rally by rival Hartnell
SALINAS >> A change in plans came out of necessity.
Playing for a tie and overtime no longer had any appeal to Hartnell College football coach Matt Collins after quarterback J.P. Garcia separated his shoulder seconds earlier in taking a punishing hit getting into the end zone for a touchdown.
“I made the decision to go for two instead of trying to drive an offense in overtime with a backup quarterback that has been standing around on the sidelines in the cold for four quarters,” Collins said.
All of a sudden, the Panthers were going for two, the win and a share of the conference lead.
“It made sense for them to try and win it all,” MPC coach Ronnie Palmer said. “The backup hadn’t played the entire game. JP is a key piece to that offense. He made such a tough run. At that point in the game, we have to make a play.”
Having been in a similar sequence four weeks earlier, the Lobos produced a stop with 44 seconds left Saturday, causing pandemonium in a conference title-clinching 28-27 win over the Panthers at Rabobank.
“We tried a play-action slant to hold the linebacker,” Collins said. “We gave up a seam inside and the quarterback was pressured.”
That pressure came from Christian Avila and Thylas Moss Henderson, forcing an errant throw that fell incomplete.
Owners of four consecutive wins, the Lobos clinched no worse than a share of the American Golden Conference title going into their season finale next Saturday with San Jose City College.
“I just told the team to enjoy this, but we didn’t come this far to be satisfied with a trophy,” Palmer said. “It’s great to beat our rival. Now we have to get a great game plan for next Saturday. I’ll enjoy this for four or five hours and start watching of film San Jose.”
The Jaguars, who had a bye this week, will have some momentum going into MPC, having beaten Hartnell in overtime two weeks ago.
“We’re finding ways to go 1-0 each week,” Palmer said. “I’d like to see us finish the fourth quarter a little better. You have to give these teams we’re playing credit. Kids are bouncing through adversity.”
The Lobos, who have won the last three meetings against Hartnell, jumped out to a 28-14 lead on the strength of a Josh Elmore touchdown run and a scoring toss to Cameron Brown.
A 14-point cushion, however, was cut in half in about 12 seconds when Payton Flores took the ensuing kickoff and outran the pursuit 92 yards for a touchdown.
The Gonzales graduate accounted for three touchdowns
for Hartnell, rushing for one and catching a 60-yard pass from Garcia earlier in the game.
With injuries depleting Hartnell’s roster to 32 players, the defense got a stop, getting the ball back to the offense, where Garcia engineered
another drive, spreading the ball around before pounding it in himself.
“He’s a strong kid,” said Palmer, in speaking of Garcia.
Yet, it came with a price as Garcia went off to the sidelines leaning to one side, holding his shoulder. Collins never hesitated in his decision, even after Palmer called two timeouts
to design a play.
“Even with a new quarterback, with all those receivers, we felt they were going to pass,” Palmer said. “The pressure forced him to throw the ball out of bounds.”
While the setback likely knocked Hartnell (3-5) out of any potential bowl bid, the Lobos can lock up a third straight bowl game with a win.
“Winning this game makes a bowl game more of a reality,” said Palmer, who spent his first season at MPC being a Zoom coach after the pandemic canceled last season.
A rivalry into its 73rd year, the Panthers still lead the series 41-30-2.
During its four-game winning streak, the Lobos have had two games decided by a point, and
another by five, beating De Anza in overtime on a blocked extra point four weeks ago. Recovering an onside kick against the Panthers sealed Saturday’s win.
Devin Bradd, who has given the Lobos ground game a big lift in the last four weeks, scored his fourth touchdown in four weeks, extending their lead to 14 in the fourth quarter.
Pacific Grove graduate Sergi Mendoza kicked a pair of field goals, including a 44-yarder.
“I just so excited and happy for the kids,” Palmer said. “I coach with passion. Seeing them come through their share of adversity, missing last season, injuries. It’s exciting to be a fan sometimes and watch these kids grow. I’ll never forget this season.”