On September 7th, high temperatures and higher spirits filled the HBC Bank Stadium on the Menifee campus at Mt. San Jacinto College for the Eagles’ first home football game. The home side was a proud sea of red and black, giving support and encouragement every minute of the game.
The conditions were less than ideal, with a temperature of over 90 degrees, humidity, a nearby fire making the sky orange, and the air thick with smoke and ash.
“They kept fighting no matter what the circumstance. I was proud of that.” said head coach Casey Mazzotta.
Despite the weather against them, the athletes pushed their exhaustion to the side and played an extremely entertaining game.
Eagles fans from Mt. San Jacinto College said, “It’s been a fun environment. It’s going to be a great team. Go, eagles!”
“Both teams are doing good. I think it’s going to come to a close end.” Said a Mt. San Antonio College fan.
The Eagles tackled, dodged, and scored difficult touchdowns despite their tiredness. This was evident in their shiny arms and the smell that covered the stadium’s ground floor.
“With this new group of guys, we have great talent with returning students, freshmen, and transfers that have come in. We’re hoping to move up a division, but any improvement is great.” said assistant athletic coordinator Austin Schmidt.
Competition was fierce, as it was Mt. San Jacinto College’s first home game against Mt. San Antonio College, which had a reputation to protect. Tackles got more aggressive, points became wins within themselves, and timeouts became more frequent as the game progressed.
The fans’ energy and excitement fed into the atmosphere. With every tackle came a rumbling chatter, and with every point made, the Eagles or Mt. San Antonio College erupted enthusiastically.
“[To the fans] Thank you for coming out. We promise to keep giving it our all and see you next week.” said quarterback Logan Gonzales.
“We kept fighting till the last whistle, and it was a hard fight. Just get ready for next week, and please bring the energy. We feed off it.” said Koa Kaleopaa, number 47.
To see the box scores and a complete game synopsis, head to the MSJC Athletics website.
