Tyler McGee / Roundup
Pierce quarterback Matt Wabby was 28 of 47 passing for 490-yards leading, Pierce to a 62-55 come from behind overtime victory Saturday versus West Los Angeles. Wabby had 8 touchdown passes, and two interceptions. Wabby would connect on touchdown passes of 34, 63, 5, 26, 21, 50, 9 and 6-yards. When asked about his performance Wabby said “my offensive line gave me great protection all night, my receivers were making big plays, my jobs easy when everyone around me is doing stuff like that.” Wabby would characterize the win simply as just a “Great team win.”
Head coach Efrain Martinez “We were fortunate to come up with a win we really were, our guys didn’t quit we just kept fighting.” Martinez also said “It will get to their heads eventually that were pretty good.” When asked about the performance by Wabby and his 8 touchdowns Martinez said “He threw eight?” With laughter following. When asked if he knew if Wabby had broken the school record he said “it’s got to be I’m willing to bet my house that it’s probably a school record.”
The Pierce team would be trailing most of the night. In fact the only time Pierce would hold a lead all night is when it mattered most at the end of the game in overtime.
Early in the game Pierce would have their difficulties stopping the running game of the West L.A. Wildcats. Evidence of the Brahmas inability to stop the run game of the Wildcats could be found early and often. As a whole the Wildcat running game would finish with 329-yards on the ground.
Down the stretch however the Pierce defensive line would adjust and force key turnovers. Defensive lineman Julian Fields would recover a fumbled snap with 1:33 to go in the fourth quarter giving the Brahmas the stop they needed to attempt to tie the game at 55.
Pierce would have a chance for the win in regulation after a Wabby to Julian 9-yard pass, tying the game at 55. Pierce would see that chance at victory stopped as Steven Sandoval had his extra-point attempt blocked by West L.A.
Coleman Edmond who had been averaging nearly 27-yards a kick-return proved to be a non-factor as the Wildcats avoided the dangerous return man all night, by kicking away from him. Edmond found another way to impact the game though. Edmond had 10 receptions for 244-yards and 3 touchdowns. Edmond also gave credit to the offensive line by saying “that’s the biggest thing the line was blocking we can’t go anywhere without the line.” Edmond would also praise the play of fellow return man Markus Cantrell. Edmond referred to a play in the fourth quarter on a kick off where the ball was rolling around where Cantrell picked up the ball. Edmond said “if he hadn’t picked that up we were done, it would have broke our back that was the biggest play of the game.”
In overtime Pierce would get the ball first and score on the third play from scrimmage, with a pass from Wabby to Harris. Pierce seal the victory when Robin Harris could not hang on to the Alan Ferguson in the back of the end zone on fourth-down.
The victory would not come without its defeats however as wide receiver Roodlin Exalus walked off the field late in the first quarter saying he quit. Exalus would sit on a bench in the parking lot for the remainder of the first half. After halftime Exalus would return to field in street clothes. Exalus and Martinez would engage in a heated verbal confrontation before two people from the stands pulled Exalus back. Martinez after the game simply said “he’s not part of the team.”
Ty Harris had 5 receptions for 99-yards and 3 touchdowns and Damon Julian had 4 receptions for 59-yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Pierce record now stands at 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Next up for Pierce is a conference road game versus Los Angeles Southwest Saturday at 6pm.
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