Photo by Dalia Joudi
Photo by Dalia Joudi

Incredible Fourth Quarter Leads Warriors to Patriotic Bowl Victory

El Camino College used a monster fourth quarter to defeat San Diego Mesa 54-45 in the Patriotic Bowl Saturday night at Merrill Douglas Stadium.

The Warriors outscored the Olympians 23-7 in the final period to score the program's second bowl victory in the last three seasons. The Warriors finish the year with a 7-4 overall record including two victories over the Olympians.

Robert Ferrel starred for the Warriors on Saturday night, grabbing seven receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He had scoring receptions of 72, 56, and 61 yards on the night. Jake Novello went 12-for-22 for 240 yards and a touchdown while Jerman Gotoy went 7-for-12 for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Gotoy also had a rushing touchdown with 28 seconds left in regulation to put ECC on top for good.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors trailed 38-31. A field goal from Campbell Geddes with 13:36 left in the fourth trimmed the deficit to four. Shawn Prejean then capped off an eight-play, 54-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors up 41-38.

The Olympians responded on the ensuing drive, marching 55 yards on just four plays and 1:42 to put San Diego Mesa back out in front.

The game stayed that way until Gotoy rolled out to throw and then tucked the ball down and ran in for a nine-yard TD run with 28 seconds left to put ECC ahead 48-45.

The Olympians had one final possession to try and tie or take the lead but Jaylen Stewart picked off a pass and returned it 48 yards for a game-ending touchdown for ECC to put an exclamation point on an incredible quarter.