MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

Pasadena— Keyon Mills did it all Friday night as he led the Muir Mustangs to their first win of 2024 in a come-from-behind win against St. Francis at John Muir High School. Mills accumulated 159 total yards on offense while adding a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass as Muir defeated St. Francis 28-18. 

“I’m just grateful. First, I want to give thanks to the lord. Then I want to give thanks to my linemen, my defense, and everybody,” commented Mills postgame. “Everybody did their job today, and I feel like we all just executed at all levels today.” 

Muir found themselves down early in the third quarter after the Golden Knights took an 18-7 lead when quarterback John Sanders found JT Martin alone for the 50-yard touchdown play. 

But then, on the next Mustang possession, they made it a 5-point game when David Cannon bulldozed his way into the end zone for the score. Cannons’s touchdown run was set up by none other than Mills, who connected with Derek Rowan for a 39-yard strike one play earlier. 

The Mustangs then took the lead after their defense forced a turnover. Cole Cogshell sacked Sanders, forcing him to fumble. 

The sack-fumble on the 49-yard line swung the momentum for the Stangs, and once they retained possession, the backfield trio of Zion McDonald, Alijah Parker, and Cannon all took turns carrying the ball down the field that set up Mills’ touchdown pass as the fourth quarter began. 

The pass was initially intended for McDonald, but the ball was tipped, and it fell into the hands of Arturo Ayers, who then took it to the house for the 24-yard touchdown play, giving Muir a 21-18 lead with 11:06 in the final period. 

St. Francis then responded on their next possession as they found success through the air. Sanders connected with Deveon Blaylock and Isaac Fajardo on back-to-back plays for 29 yards. But then, on fourth down, Sanders dropped back and scrambled out of the pocket, only to have his pass intercepted by Mills, who reversed the field for Muir. 

Two plays after the interception, Parker took the handoff, ran through a Golden Knight tackle, and took it to the house for a 34-yard rushing score. Once the Mustangs converted their 2-point try, they extended their lead to 28-18 with 8:14 remaining in the final period. 

The Mustangs defense then silenced St. Franks from that point, creating constant pressure for Sanders, who had trouble finding his receivers downfield. They also held Fajardo in check as he struggled to find room when he took the handoff. 

Once the offense took possession, they played keep-away and were able to run the clock out, giving them their first win of the 2024 season. 

“It feels great,” said Mills when asked about Muir’s first win of the season. “Many more to come.” 

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, and they were held scoreless after the first 12 minutes of play. That changed, however, when McDonald returned a St. Francis punt for the game’s first touchdown early in the second quarter. 

Then, in the final four minutes of the second quarter, the Golden Knights made it an 11-7 game when they scored on consecutive drives. Shawn Sanders booted a 37-yard field goal, and John Sanders found Blaylock for a 36-yard passing touchdown. Once their 2-point conversion was successful, the Golden Knights took their 11-7 lead into intermission. 

With the win, Muir will look to make it two in a row when they start Pacific League play next Friday when they host Burbank. St. Francis will look to get its first win next Friday when it hosts Loyola.