Griffins rally twice in fourth, stun Owls

2021 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

GROSSMONT 42, CITRUS 39

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

GLENDORA —- Grossmont College sophomore quarterback Brady Abt rallied the Griffins from an early 16-0 deficit to take the lead in the final minute, then defensive lineman Cole Parsley registered a red zone sack on the final play of the game, leading the Griffins to Saturday’s (Sept. 18) dramatic 42-39 triumph over 18th-ranked Citrus College in community college football action at Citrus Stadium.

Abt fired a pair of touchdown passes to give Grossmont (1-1 overall) a 35-31 lead midway through the fourth quarter. However, the host Owls reclaimed the advantage with a 53-yard TD run by Kasmir Dina (and a 2-point conversion) with 2:13 remaining.

Still, Abt directed one additional, late scoring drive.

Abt, a sophomore from Houston, capped the 7-play, 70-yard march on a quarterback sneak from the Citrus 1. The key play was a 43-yard Abt completion to Chris Carter (Steele Canyon).

The TD was Grossmont’s third of the fourth quarter and fifth of the second half, securing a comeback from a 24-7 halftime hole.

Citrus’ last chance saw one catch for a first down, then three straight incompletions, including a pass breakup by Grossmont defensive back Chance Lovato (El Capitan).

Then on fourth down, the Owls quarterback again couldn’t find a receiver thanks to the linebackers and secondary of the G-House, so he ran with the ball, only to get plugged by Parsley.

“It was a hard-fought game through and through,” said, Lovato, who led the Griffins in solo tackles with eight. “Everyone played hard. Special teams were big, and the offense came out firing in the second half. Big comeback win, now we just have to keep in rolling.”

In the second half, the rally started in a big way.

Abt fired a 65-yard scoring pass to Payton Monson, who also came to the Griffins from Houston.  Then in the third period, Abt found Perry Steele (Steele Canyon) on a quick out of 4 yards to move to within 24-14.

Grossmont could really feel the momentum, however, when Carter took a reverse from his former high school teammate, Steele, on the Owls’ ensuing punt, and returned the ball for a 74-yard score, drawing the Griffs to within 24-21.

Abt (23-for-34, 407 yards) fired his second TD pass to Monson (6 catches, 149 yards) with 8:08 left, starting a sequence of both sides racing up and down the field over the final minutes.

Steele finished with seven receptions for 177 yards.

On defense, Parsley led with seven solo tackles including his sack, while Arturo Tosses (Preuss UCSD High School) recorded a pair of QB takedowns.

Anthony Lombardo (Helix) and Rock Gonzalaz (Olympian) also shared a sack.

Linebacker Jeremiah Fletcher (Helix) was in on 10 tackles (six solo, four assists).

SUMMARY
GRIFFINS 42, OWLS 39
Grossmont College (1-1)..  0  7 14 21 – 42
Citrus College (1-2)….. 13 11  7  8 – 39

Cit – Zaldivar 1 run. (kick failed)
Cit – Young 1 run. (Ray kick)Cit – FG Ray 21
GC – Monson 66 pass from Abt. (Hughes kick)
Cit – Flores 25 pass from Urena. (pass from Thompson)

GC – Steele 4 pass from Abt. (Hughes kick)
GC – Carter 74 punt return TD (Hughes kick)
Cit – Young 3 run. (Ray kick)

GC – Davies 13 run (Hughes kick)
GC – Monson 12 pass from Abt. (Nathan Hughes kick)
Cit –  Dina 53 run. (pass by Rene Zaldivar), 2:13 left
GC – Abt 1 run (Hughes kick),0:36 left