MidValleySports.Com

By Duane Barker

(Covina, CA) The athleticism of the Muir Mustangs and Charter Oak Chargers took the stage Friday at Charger Oak High School. Corin Berry led the Chargers on a drive that started at the Charter Oak 49 with just over two minutes to play. A six play drive culminated with a 23-yard pass from Berry to Christian Alarcon with :48 left to play and a 34-33 lead when the two-point conversion failed. With the win the Chargers improved to 3-0 on the season.

The Mustangs led by Trey Gamble mounted a drive to try to get into field goal range with only :48 seconds to do so made the prospects nearly impossible. 

Gamble’s Hail Mary with seven seconds left fell into the arms of Izaya Orona of Charter Oak to end the contest.

Muir got on the scoreboard first taking the opening drive 64-yard on only two plays. A 37-yard pass to Alijah Smith and a 27-yard pass to Noah Bozeman. Both catches were of the highlight variety.

Charter Oak countered with a scoring drive of their own marching 71-yards on nine plays with Joel Sanchez getting the call from 3-yards out.

As time expired in the opening quarter, the Chargers put another seven on the board when Torry Huff capped a five play drive with a 14-yard run.

Charter Oak headed to the locker room at half time with a 14-7 lead. 

Things didn’t start too well in the second half for the Chargers. 

The Charter Oak return man watched as the ball landed near the goal line. When the ball did not break the plane and bounce back towards the field of play he continued to watch the ball. The Mustangs seized the moment and pounced on the live ball at the one yard line. One play later David Cannon muscled his way into the endzone.

The teams exchanged touchdowns midway through the third on passes from Gamble to Zion McDonald for Muir and Berry to Antonio Reasby.

Back to back touchdowns from Gamble to Smith extended put the Mustangs up 33-21 early the fourth quarter. The second was a thing of beauty as Smith got behind the Charger defense for a 90-yard bolt to paydirt.

Charter Oak pulled to within five when they were able to block a punt deep in Muir territory. Orona picked up the block and raced to the endzone for the touchdown and cut the deficit to five 33-28..

Everyone in attendance knew the onside kick was coming next, an onside kick which Muir was ready for and cover the kick at the Mustang 46.

The Charger defense stiffened and Muir was unable to gain much traction. On fourth and five at the Muir 47, Gamble’s pass to Bozeman on the sideline was ruled incomplete. Bozeman would have had enough for the first down if the completion could have been made. 

Berry and the Chargers took over on downs and the rest was history with the game winning drive.

The Mustangs  will be on the road next week to take on Corona Del Mar while Muir (1-1) will travel to La Canada to take on St. Francis.