MidValleySports.Com

The Saints celebrate the Mid Valley Title!

(San Dimas) – Joseph “The Count” Mayorga’s 33 yard touchdown run with 27 seconds left gave San Dimas a 20-14 win over Paraclete and a CIF Mid-Valley Division Championship.

Mayorga’s game winning score came on a fourth down and and five after the Saints set up shop with a first down at the Paraclete 38.

Joseph “The Count” Mayorga leads the Saints to the Mid Valley Title

Paraclete was forced to punt the ball away to San Dimas from its own 13 yard line and a shank left the Saints in good field position at the Paraclete 38 with 1:32 left in the fourth. However it looked like the Spirits might escape when they held San Dimas on the first three downs setting up the fourth and five. Then Mayorga happened. He hit the corner and then and pushed away a couple of Paraclete defenders as he bolted into the end zone.

Paraclete got the ball back and moved it to the 48 but Brett Nelson was intercepted by Colin Rumbin on a Hail Mary attempt as the clock ran out and the Saint Faithful erupted.

Fausto Martinez had a major part in the Saints winning the title.

San Dimas never trailed in the game leading 7-0 at the half and 14-7 after three. Paraclete tied it twice but each time the Saints responded with scores.

***With the score tied at 14 in the fourth quarter San Dimas was forced to punt the ball back to Paraclete from its own 21. But instead of fielding the ball, the Spirit punt returner let the ball roll all the way down to the 13 yard line.

***Paraclete then went three and out paving the way for good field position and the game winning touchdown.

***Mayorga finished the night with 16 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns. His 14-yard run in the third quarter gave the Saints a 14-7 lead.

***Brett Nelson completed two of eight passes for 58 yards for Paraclete but his first completion was a 31 yard pass to Chad Hall with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 14.

***Fausto Martinez led the San Dimas rushing attack with 163 yards on 24 carries.

***The Saints had over 350 yards on the ground.

***San Dimas quarterback Josh Avila completed one pass for 19 yards.

***There were only two turnovers in the contest as each quarterback threw an interception.

***San Dimas’ first score came on a three-yard run by Manny Elizalde in the first quarter that capped an 80-yard, 14 play drive.

***Melqusie Stovall tied the game at seven for Paraclete with a 32-yard run in the third quarter. Stovall was the workhorse with 25 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown.

***San Dimas missed two field goals and an extra point in the contest.

***Paraclete also missed a 32-yard field goal on its first drive.

***San Dimas started the season 0-4 before reeling off ten straight victories for the title.

*** “I’m glad it worked out they way it did after the way the year started. All the kids have worked hard and next year will be even more difficult. They had a dream and realized it,” said San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow.

***This was the third straight loss in a title game for Paraclete, losing to Monrovia last year and to Sierra Canyon in the East Valley Championship in 2011.

***San Dimas offensive line: LT Mike Zapata, LG Derek Kearns, C Fidel Castro, RG Nathan Alvarez, LT Jared Trujillo.

***This is San Dimas’ second Mid-Valley title in the last five years.

*** “To the seniors, I’m sorry we tried. But I’m not any more proud of you right now than I’ve even been. I know how bad it hurts. I know the feeling. I’m tired of this over the last three years. But you need to keep your heads up. You made it to a place that a lot of people don’t. And I couldn’t be more proud.” – Paraclete HC Norm Dahlia to his team after the game.