Mahoney Scores in Final Minute to Push University Past Sonora

University held off a late Sonora rally and used a four-yard touchdown run by Jarrett Mahoney with 48 seconds left to beat the Raiders 28-21, Friday at Irvine Stadium.

Sonora, which trailed at halftime, 14-0, scored once in the third quarter and twice in the fourth to tie the score, 21-21. But University quarterback Damian DeFeo, who completed only two of 10 passes and the first three quarters, led a 17-yard drive in the final minutes to give University the lead.

Sonora (1-3) threatened to score again on its last possession but its fate was sealed when University’s Tom Roney intercepted a pass from Clint Patton with 15 seconds left.

Sonora, which gained only 42 first-half yards, fumbled on its 20-yard line 30 seconds into the game. University (2-2) recovered and scored three plays later on a quarterback keeper by DeFeo. The Trojans had not scored in the first half of their previous games.

With a minute left in the second quarter University struck again on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Justin Isaac.

University scored its third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter on a 56-yard run by Kelvin Murray. Murray finished the game with 142 yards in 22 carries.

DeFeo completed five of 13 for 90 yards, 60 of which came on the final drive.