With just over 11 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Los Medanos coaching contingent in the press box began shouting down to its sideline with glee.
With momentum already swung the Mustangs' way after a dominating second half effort, the Los Medanos coaches could see the Blue Devils' composure unraveling in the form of a sideline shouting match after the offense's fourth three-and-out of the second half.
Four plays later, a Chase Danska touchdown pass gave Los Medanos its first lead since the 1-minute, 8-second mark of the first quarter.
MC mustered one final drive, but Fabian Miramontes pulled a 44-yard field goal attempt just right and the Mustangs celebrated their first Golden Gate Conference victory this season with an 18-17 win on Saturday afternoon.
The loss put to rest the Blue Devils' slim hopes of grabbing a share of the GGC crown and insured the team of its sixth straight losing season.
"Our frustration level is through the roof right now," center Aaron Mowrer said. "We should be competing for a conference title right now and instead we have three losses.
"We just let them hang around instead of putting the nail in the coffin and it cost us."
Los Medanos (1-3 GGC, 3-6) scored first following a fumble recovery at the Merced College 1-yard line.
Emmanuel Brooks couldn't handle a Brendan Crawford handoff and Los Medanos recovered, setting a short scoring run by Danska to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.
Brooks atoned for the miscue on MC's ensuing possession, capping a 48-yard drive with a 13-yard TD run.
The Blue Devils (1-3, 3-6) doubled their lead with just under two minutes to play in the half when Crawford found Andy Benavides for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
MC almost struck again six seconds later, when Danska was intercepted by linebacker Tim Tisdale (team-high 7 ½ tackles) at the Los Medanos 21. Tisdale had a clean path to the end zone, but couldn't quite tip-toe along the sideline and stepped out at the 11.
It would prove costly as the Blue Devils had to settle for a field goal and a 17-6 halftime lead.
Danska began swinging momentum back the Mustangs' way with a 67-yard touchdown run about midway through the third quarter. A failed 2-point conversion left it 17-12.
The Los Medanos offensive line began taking over the game and the MC offense had no answer. After recording just eight total yards in their first two second-half possessions, the Blue Devils' first promising drive ended when Crawford was intercepted in the end zone.
After going 10 of 13 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown in the first half, the MC sophomore struggled after the intermission. Crawford was just 3 of 10 for 15 yards and was pulled by Kaanapu after the team's fourth three-and-out of the second half.
Sophomore Justin Fausone came on after Los Medanos took an 18-17 lead and provided a spark.
Starting at its own 42-yard line, Fausone drove MC to the Mustang 24. But a false start on a second-and-2 stalled the drive and forced Miramontes' failed field goal attempt. The Blue Devil defense managed one last stop, but MC turned the ball over on downs to seal the loss.
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