First field lights go out, then so do MJC's chances

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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The Modesto Junior College Pirates led 7-0 when half the lights went out late in the first period.

And then it got worse.

The lights were restored 10 minutes later, but it still wasn't a pretty sight. Though the Pirates started fast and finished with a kick on homecoming night, the middle 58 minutes were about as good as the light quality.

West Hills 27, MJC 24. Back to the drawing board.

All the set decoration was in place. Nearly 100 skull and crossbone flags were flying above the borders of MJC Stadium, and the Pirates (1-1) seemed poised for its first 2-0 start in three years. It looked even better when tight end Mike Ward took a pass from Greg Panelli on the first play from scrimmage and sped 75 yards for a touchdown.

Modesto gradually submitted from there, however, as West Hills' Randy Maynes — a spinning and shifty 175-pounder from Florida — plundered the Pirates for for 203 yards on 26 carries.

By the time he and the Falcons (1-1) were finished, they led 27-16 until one final gasp from the home team.

Modesto, hustling on the 2-minute drill, marched 80 yards and closed to 27-24 with 16 seconds left on Cody Ball's 1-yard run and Panelli's sneak for an additional deuce.

Imani Brown then recovered the onside kick to provide a thrill for what was left of a crowd of about 2,000. But three incompletions by Panelli (26-for-51, 311 yards, 2 interceptions) clinched Modesto's first loss.

"There was one for the fans," coach Sam Young reviewed. "They had so much game-breaking speed. They make you match up with them."

Modesto lost because West Hills churned out 261 rushing yards compared to the Pirates' 48. Still, MJC held that 7-0 lead when the Falcons' Tre Watson stepped in front of a Panelli pass and returned 22 yards, somersaulting into the end zone.

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That ignited West Hills' 21-point third period. After the teams traded scores, West Hills took the lead to stay on the game's oddest play.

Maynes ripped 59 yards and appeared to be coasting into the end zone when the Pirates' Eric Crocker stripped the ball and sent it spinning forward. But Kirt Terry-Springs pounced on it to save the West Hills TD.

Modesto yielded the majority of the rushing yards during the second half. It also committed five personal fouls to further drain its momentum.

"We didn't react well to the adversity," Young said. "We tried to establish the run early, but we found out they could contain us."

Ron Agostini is a Bee staff writer; reach him at 578-2300