Pride Carries Valley but Not Far Enough, 20-17

Down to its last game and with no bowl to call its own, Valley College lined up against Santa Monica on Saturday and played for pride.

And until Cuneyt Karacuha’s 38-yard field-goal attempt sailed just wide left late in the fourth period, it looked like Valley might have something to be proud of.

But in the end, host Valley’s 20-17 Western State Conference loss to bowl-bound Santa Monica was just another frustrating Saturday in a season filled with them.

“It’s kind of upsetting. That field goal missed by about an inch from tying the score,” Valley quarterback Mark Mengoni said. “I was glad we could stay close to them, but we should have beat them.”

Valley (3-7 overall, 3-6 in conference play) battled back from 7-0 and 14-7 deficits to tie the score, 14-14, on Mengoni’s 58-yard touchdown pass to Cliff Robinson and Karacuha’s conversion kick late in the second period. The Monarchs took the lead on Karacuha’s 36-yard third-quarter field goal and stopped Santa Monica on three consecutive possessions before Jeff Barrett engineered the game-winning drive.

Barrett completed a 63-yard pass to Jason Lucky to put the ball at the Valley 18, and four plays later Barrett scored on a nine-yard keeper. Chris Jackson’s kick was wide, but Santa Monica (8-2, 7-2) led, 20-17, with 9 minutes 9 seconds to play.

Valley drove 31 yards in 11 plays to set up Karacuha’s potential game-tying kick, but the ball sailed wide with 3:19 left.

Barrett, who completed eight of 28 for 228 yards and threw two interceptions, had a hand in all three Corsair touchdowns, scoring on a one-yard second-quarter sneak and tossing an 80-yard touchdown pass to Turhon O’Bannon on Santa Monica’s first play from scrimmage.

Mengoni, who entered the game in the first period after starter Trendell Williams reaggravated a season-long rotator cuff injury, completed 10 of 20 for 141 yards with one interception.