In the first game under head coach Carlos Woods, the football dropped the season opener to the Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles by a score of 53-35.
It was the first time that the team played together due to their scrimmage against Santa Ana College being canceled.
Wide receiver Christian Graves said they needed to be more alert from the start.
“We needed this game to open our eyes,” Graves said.
The Eagles took the lead two minutes into the game while Erik Castro scored on a field goal attempt to give the team their first points of the season.
At the half, the Brahmas were down 27-3.
Quarterback Jonathan Saavedra scored the team’s first touchdown after deciding to run for it on second down.
A dropped punt return by Mt. San Jacinto gave the Brahmas possession leading to the team’s second touchdown by Marcus Johnson.
Dehron Holloway scored on an 80-yard kickoff return making the score 40-21.
A bad snap on a punt by the Eagles gave Pierce possession at the goal line, leading to Tylin Scott scoring his first of two touchdowns.
With 2:38 left in the game, Reid scored another touchdown extending the Eagles’ lead to 53-29.
Scott scored the team’s last touchdown on a five-yard run but it was not enough.
The final score did not discourage Woods, as he said that next week they will be prepared to face West LA College.
During the first half, Brahmas linebacker Jalen Burton was ejected from the game for targeting, one of eight Pierce penalties.
“I don’t know what they were looking at. It was disappointing,” Woods said. “The penalties were a determining factor.”
The targeting ejection for Burton would have carried over into the next game, however, according to Athletic Director Moriah Van Norman, the ejection has been rescinded.
Williams Pena noticed the Brahmas were not focused mentally during the game.
“Our heads weren’t in the game because they’re too focused on the refs,” Pena said.
The Brahmas are back on the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 8, when they face West LA College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at West LA.
