Valley Star

Issue date: 11/9/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nina Bruckner MATRIX RELOADED - The Monarchs were flying high against Pierce, winning 30-25. Marquis Powell, #6, catches the ball.

Penalty flags sailed through the air at Pierce College's John Shepard Stadium like shooting stars. Football wishes would be made and Valley College's would come true.

The Monarch football team earned its second victory of the season, beating conference rival Pierce College 30-25 Saturday. No individual players stole the show; instead, the referees took center stage and had the greatest impact on the game, assessing 22 penalties for 220 yards.

"I hate saying this, but the refs were unbelievable today," said Monarch head coach Jimmy Sims. "Some bad officiating allowed Pierce to get back in the game. Fortunately, we were still able to pull it out."

Pulling out the victory was a much greater task than the team had initially thought. The Monarchs almost squandered a 24-6 third-quarter lead. What at first appeared to be the makings of a blowout ended as a nail biter.

For the first time all season, the Monarchs' squad was able to get significant offense from its running and passing games. Opting primarily for aerial assaults in the past, the Monarchs relied heavily on their ground force - draw plays to running backs Abel Herrera and Terrell Patterson were the Monarchs' most effective attacks. Herrera finished with 135 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, and Patterson added 91 yards on 14 carries.

Once the Monarchs established the rush, starting quarterback Corey Jones was able to use play-action passes and find open receivers in the post and down the sidelines. Executing this strategy to perfection, the Monarchs found themselves up 17-6 at the half.

Meanwhile, the Pierce offense struggled to get things started. Blitzing on nearly every down, the Monarch defense was relentless. Pierce quarterback Thomas Herringshaw was under constant pressure, hurried on seemingly every snap and was sacked five times.

"We stress teamwork and brotherhood," said defensive captain Bryant Barrientos on the team's effort and recent success (The Monarchs won their first game last week against Santa Barbara, 13-0). "Like we say in practice, our motto is 'We all we got'.

At the start of the second half, Jones found wide receiver Antoine Palmer in the end zone to make it 24-6. The Monarchs made it 30-12 after Jackson and wide-receiver Lance Harper met up for a 12-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter. But, with flags flying and whistles blowing, Pierce found a way to sneak back into the contest. Herringshaw connected with Kenny Kinard -the first, a 20-yard reception, and the second a 10-yarder, with 4:43 remaining in the game, bringing Pierce to within five, 30-25.

But the Monarchs' wishes would be granted. After a costly Monarch fumble, Pierce was given one last scoring opportunity. However, the Monarch defense asserted itself once more - breaking up passes and forming impenetrable walls at the line of scrimmage. Defensive backs Kirifi Ofagalilo and John Fonua contributed strong tackles and the Monarchs held on for the win.

The Monarchs will visit No. 1-ranked College of the Canyons on Nov. 12 for the last game of the season.

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