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Media Advisory |
For Immediate Release
11/16/12
Delta College Mustangs win the Silicon Valley Bowl over DeAnza!
(Stockton)
In a wild Silicon Valley Bowl shoot-out at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, the Delta College Mustangs scored 63 points against the DeAnza Dons, eking out a narrow 63-56 victory over the 5th ranked NorCal Conference co-champion.
This is the second game in a row the Mustangs (8-3) have scored 63 points against DeAnza (8-3) in a bowl game. Last year, they routed an injury riddled Dons team 63-13 in Togo’s Delta Bowl, played at Delta’s DeRicco Stadium. This year, DeAnza’s high powered offense had all its star players ready to rumble, relishing a chance for revenge. Key among those was the NorCal Conference offensive player of the year, quarterback Josh McCain.
Spearheaded by Delta quarterback Sam Hutsell’s balanced passing attack, the rushing of De’Marieya Nelson, receiver Jack Killian and two key defensive stops in the first quarter, Delta burst out to a 28-7 lead. It didn’t take long for DeAnza quarterback Josh McCain to start reeling the Mustangs back in. The DeAnza Don’s own balanced attack, combined with McCain’s scrambles and the rushing of Alfonso Brister, matched Delta’s 21 point second quarter. By halftime, Delta still controlled the game with a commanding 34-21 lead.
As you might expect, the scoring was far from over. Sam Hutsell’s one yard touchdown run and Jack Killian’s 37 yard TD reception added 14 more points to Delta’s total in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, DeAnza added 21 points of its own with two McCain touchdown passes and a five yard touchdown run by Brister. By the end of the quarter, Delta still clung to a 49-42 lead.
DeAnza took their first lead of the game with 9:48 left in the fourth quarter. McCain turned another scramble into a 30 yard touchdown run to go up 56-49. Delta worked its way back into a tie with a drive-finishing ten yard touchdown run by De’Marieya Nelson. A huge defensive stop ended DeAnza’s next drive. Defensive end Elijah Saina finally sacked McCain to set up a failed 3rd down pass attempt by the DeAnza quarterback, forcing a punt.
Time was short…2:36 remained in the game. The Mustangs needed to drive 88 yards for the victory. Utilizing a balanced attack, Delta efficiently drove 75 yards. With 10 seconds left, De’Marieya Nelson, who was battling a lingering hamstring injury all game, was called to duty. Nelson bulled his way the final 13 yards…extending the ball over the goal line to give the Mustangs a nail-biting 63-56 victory! Both teams combined for almost 1,200 yards in offense.
Coach Gary Barlow was ecstatic after the white-knuckle last second victory, but as a coach, was still frustrated at seeing 56 points scored against the Mustang defense. “All that matters is…if you score one more point than your opponent, you’ll be happy at the end!” This was Coach Barlow’s first Silicon Valley Bowl victory, and 10th bowl appearance in 12 seasons at Delta. The Mustangs have been to seven straight bowl games, with this win marking Delta’s first back-to-back bowl championships.
DeAnza quarterback Josh McCain was named the “Offensive Player of the Game” throwing for 347 yards on 26 of 45 attempts with four touchdowns. Delta receiver Jack Killian was the game’s MVP, catching eight passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.WAY TO GO MUSTANGS!
The Delta College Mustangs celebrate their 63-56 victory over DeAnza in the Silicon Valley Bowl!
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