COD (3-3; 1-0) began American Division-Mountain Conference play by scoring 28 unanswered points en route to dominating on both sides of the football, while retaining the Palms-To-Pines Trophy for another year, defeating the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (3-3; 0-1), 30-13.

Moments into the first quarter, the Roadrunners would turn an Eagles 3rd down and 8 yards to go, into an interception by freshman defensive back Tahir Johnson (Kingsland (GA) Camden County) at the Mt. San Jacinto 40 yard line. Johnson would scramble back to the Eagles 9 yard line and on the very next play freshman quarterback Darius Hulsey (Thermal Coachella Valley) lobbed a beautiful pass to sophomore wide receiver Myles Goulbourne (Waterbury (CT) Crosby) for the first score of the game. The score and the extra point by freshman kicker Alex Duarte (El Centro Central) gave the home side an early 7-0 lead.

On the next possession, the Roadrunners defense forced the Eagles into three straight incomplete passes and on the ensuing punt, Desert freshman linebacker Adrian Guzman (La Quinta H.S.) snagged a partially blocked punt and scampered 40 yards to score the second touchdown of the night. After the extra point was missed, COD retained a 13-0 lead.

Midway through the first quarter, freshman running back Kamone Best (Goldsboro (NC) Eastern Wayne) caught a pass from Hulsey in the flat and darted down the sideline, using extreme speed to cruise into the end zone on a 67 yard catch-and-run and after the Duarte extra point, the Roadrunners had a commanding 20-0 lead.

Towards the end of the second quarter, the Roadrunners defensive secondary came alive again, as sophomore defensive back Egypt Johnson (Chicago (IL) Brooks) snagged an interception at the Eagles 33 yard line and ran it to the Mt. San Jacinto 26 yard line. Desert would take possession on the Eagles 26 yard line and after a Mt. San Jacinto pass interference penalty, the Roadrunners would find the end zone again, this time Best bounced in from eight yards out. Best's number was called again for the two-point conversion, giving Desert a 28-0 lead.

At the end of the third quarter, Desert attempted to keep a drive alive on a 4th down and 1 yard to go, but a quarterback sneak by Hulsey failed, giving the Eagles good field position. Going 32 yards in seven plays, the Eagles would get to within 28-13, then the bizarre happened. On the extra point attempt, the kick was blocked by sophomore defensive back Corey Dalton (Midlothian (IL) Bremen) and picked up by sophomore wide receiver Timothy Darcelien (Apex, NC) who streaked into the end zone for a two-point advantage, giving Desert a 30-13 lead.

Hulsey played a good game, going 16 for 31 with 217 yards passing and two scores in the win and Best was a beast, rushing 28 times for 164 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 79 yards and a score.

Freshman wide receiver Samuel Gomez (La Quinta H.S.) had a good night as well, grabbing seven passes for 71 yards and a long of 24 yards and freshman full back Benjamin Myles (Palatka, FL) had 12 carries for 34 yards.

Freshman defensive end Romello Hamilton (Goldsboro (NC) Eastern Wayne) played a dominate game, grabbing two sacks for a loss of eight yards and eight total tackles.

Photo by Brian Sylva (COD SID)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information