Santa Monica Spoils Sizzling Comeback by Pierce With Last-Second Field Goal

The Pierce College football team came oh-so-close to pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in school history against host Santa Monica in a Western State Conference Southern Division game Saturday night, but Matt Hill’s 25-yard field goal with five seconds left gave the Corsairs a 37-35 victory.

Santa Monica methodically drove 72 yards in 17 plays on the decisive drive. Tailback Brett Washington (121 yards in 29 carries), a former standout at Granada Hills High, had 10 carries for 48 yards during the drive.

Pierce fell to 5-4, 4-4 in WSC play and 2-2 in division play. Santa Monica is 4-5, 4-4, 2-2.

After trailing, 25-7, at halftime, the Brahmas took their first lead, 35-34, with 7 minutes 35 seconds to play on a 72-yard pass play from quarterback Cesar Parra to wide receiver Robert McIntyre.

Pierce, aided by two Santa Monica fumbles, scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to narrow its deficit to 32-28 entering the final period.

Pierce’s third-quarter scores came on a six-yard run by Dan Reynolds, a two-yard run by Parra and a 26-yard pass from Parra to tight end Xavier Foreman.

Santa Monica stretched its lead to 34-28 when Parra was sacked in the end zone for a safety, but Pierce retaliated on its next possession to take the lead.

Pierce must win its final WSC game this week against archrival Valley to have any chance of gaining a second consecutive postseason bowl bid.

Trailing, 14-7, midway through the second quarter, Pierce committed three mistakes in the last six minutes that led to 11 Santa Monica points and a 25-7 Corsair lead at halftime.

Pierce’s Erik Thomas capped the collapse with nine seconds left in the half when he bobbled a Santa Monica kickoff at the Brahma three-yard line, picked up the ball in the end zone and downed it for a safety.

Six seconds earlier, Santa Monica had taken a 23-7 lead when tight end Danny White caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dion Bergeron. The play capped a 23-yard drive set up by a fumble by Parra.

Before that, Hill had kicked a 22-yard field goal for Santa Monica after the Corsairs had blocked a Brahma punt.