Mesa Legend - News - MCC football team drops 3rd straight

MCC football team drops 3rd straight

Elisa Nowicki
and Nick Kosmider
Mesa Legend

As in thier home opener, the MCC football team had trouble moving the ball against Phoenix college, losing 9-0 and dropping their record on the year to 1-3. Mesa is averaging just 13.3 points per game this season.

The Thunderbirds connected on only 12 out of 40 passes, including an interception as they played their third away game of the season.

Defensively MCC continued their strong play picking off two passes while holding Phoenix to under a 50 percent completion rating.

The MCC Thunderbirds lost their first home game of the season on September 23rd, 17-9, to the Arizona Western Matadors (3-1), dropping their record to 1-2.
Attendance exceeded 4,000 fans from both sides, consisting primarily of family members with a sizable turnout of students as well.

Preston Hale, freshman linebacker from Hamilton High School, said, “I expected a higher crowd and more spirit.”

The turnout, though, had little to do with the outcome of the game. “In order to win the next game, we need to focus, keep the game perfect, with not as many penalties,” Hale added.

MCC was penalized 12 times for 110 yards. Fumbling was another major problem. MCC fumbled 6 times, losing three of them including one on an interception return.

MCC’s offense struggled except for a couple drives. MCC’s ground game netted 125 yards on 43 carries for a 2.9 yard per carry average. They gained 108 yards through the air.

Victor Anderson was able to engineer a 59 yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the first half following Billy Ray Weatherford’s interception which he returned over 20 yards.

The touchdown drive included two runs totaling 15 yards up the middle by Jay Leal, and three passes to Vincent Anderson, including the touchdown pass, giving them a 6-3 lead at halftime.

The T-birds were able to regain momentum in the second half after losing a fumble on the third play of the half that gave the Matadors possession on the MCC 9 yard line.

The Matador quarterback was picked off by Charles Fiefia on MCC’s 1 yard line that he returned to the 18.

Victor connected with Vincent Anderson for an 82 yard touchdown on the first play, but it was called back.

The T-birds drove to Western’s 2 in that same series before settling for a 23 yard Dominic Gamboa field goal.

Unfortunately, that would be all the scoring the T-birds would muster.

The game ended with our men of the gridiron pinned in the shadows of their goal post.

A final desperate pass attempt was blocked and intercepted in the end zone sealing Arizona Western’s win with seconds remaining.

This situation would have been avoided had MCC’s kickers not had bad luck with two missed field goals and a missed PAT.

According to head coach Dan Dunn, the defense is the team’s strongest strength. The defense performed well in the game with several big hits including savage hits by Andrew Gamboa. Mike Darrington also intercepted a pass. The T-bird defense held Arizona Western to only 8 first downs, 211 yards total yards, and 10 points.
Quarterback Victor “Kane” Anderson, who was recruited from East St. Louis, stated that it was a “passing and running game and we were able to capitalize on both, but we weren’t able to finish in the red zone.”

Anderson was the leading passer, going 9 of 18 for 88 yards with one interception.
Sophomore wide receivers, Rudy Fleming from McClintock High, along with Victor’s twin, Vincent Anderson, were the leading receivers, both catching 5 passes for 56 yards.

Fleming said the team performance is not as good as last year, but the teamwork was up to par.

Because the team turns over half of the players every year, the team does not have as much time to establish practice ethics and bond.

“It starts off hard, but we learn to get along fast and well, too.”

He added that the team needs to “work on communication so we can come together as one.”

Leal was the team’s leading rusher with 15 rushes for 60 yards.

He agreed that the offense needed to come together and mistakes such as fumbles and penalties could interfere with future wins.

As a freshman, this was his first home game of the season, but he was pleased with the attendance.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a good crowd.”