Merced College stuns Hartnell with a long touchdown pass in game’s final seconds
Merced College quarterback Jacob Bettencourt connected with tight end Mateo Brinson on a 48-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to lift the Blue Devils to a 36-31 victory over Hartnell on Saturday afternoon at Stadium ‘76.
The last-minute touchdown capped a wild fourth quarter that saw Merced College (6-4 overall, 3-1 American Gold Coast Conference) erase a 14-point deficit only to lose the lead on a Hartnell field goal with 37 seconds left.
Bettencourt found Demoundre Evans for a 40-yard touchdown and Romello Presley scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to pull MC within 28-27 with 5:23 remaining in the game. Bettencourt converted the two-point conversion with a pass to Brinson to give the Blue Devils a 29-28 lead.
However, the Panthers drove down and regained the lead at 31-29 after a 40-yard field goal by Jaime Haro with 37 seconds left.
That set up the dramatic 48-yard touchdown pass from Bettencourt to Brinson.
Bettencourt completed 13 of 17 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
Presley rushed for 65 yards on the ground and two scores.
Linebacker Cody Chapman led the Blue Devils defense with 13 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
Merced College won despite surrendering 369 yards passing and two touchdowns to Hartnell quarterback Juan Pablo Garcia. Panthers receiver Josiah Freeman finished with 11 catches for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
