Southwest Thwarts Pierce on Desperation Pass, 26-25

Colorado-Michigan this game wasn’t.

Just the same, on the three-week anniversary of one of college football’s most amazing plays, L.A. Southwest quarterback Akili Roberson celebrated by completing a desperation pass of his own Saturday.

Playing the part of Colorado’s Michael Westbrook was John Carter, who caught Roberson’s 36-yard prayer between two defenders with 10 seconds left to give host Southwest a 26-25 victory over Pierce in a Western State Conference interdivisional game.

And it was Roberson, of course, doing his best Kordell Stewart impersonation.

Quarterback Dave Muir sparked what had been an inept offense with 149 passing yards in the fourth quarter as Pierce erased a 20-3 deficit. Muir’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Reggie James put Pierce ahead, 25-20, with 5 minutes 36 seconds left.

The Brahmas (1-4, 1-3) scored a touchdown on their first three possessions of the fourth quarter, but Southwest (2-4, 1-4) came up with the one that mattered.

Roberson’s game-winning pass put an exclamation point on a two-minute, 93-yard drive. Roberson passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns; Muir completed 21 of 40 attempts for 267 yards and two touchdowns.