BY ALLAN STEELE
STAFF WRITER [email protected]
HEMET—The Victory Bell rang for Hemet for the first time in 10 years on Friday night as the Bulldogs rallied late in the fourth quarter to knock of San Jacinto 41-37 in a Mountain Pass League game.
Hemet trailed 37-27 with 57 seconds left before Jeff Martin bulled in for a score. The Bulldogs recovered the onside kick and marched downfield as the clock ticked down. It was Martin again who ran in from 8 yards out to put Hemet up with 16 seconds left and setting off a celebration .
The victory not only snapped a three-game losing streak to San Jacinto (5-5, 2-3), it earned the Bulldogs (5-5, 3-2) their first playoff berth since 2006.
Players and fans charged the field after the final whistle and eventually made it to the San Jacinto sideline to get the Victory Bell.
Much to the delight of the crowd and students who swarmed onto the field, the bell was wheeled over to the Hemet sidelined and it rang out while the celebration continued.
With the victory, Hemet finishes third in the Mountain Pass to earn an automatic playoff spot. At 5-5 overall, San Jacinto has a shot to make the playoffs with an at-large berth.
Hemet was 5-25 over the past five seasons, including just 2-13 in league over that span and 0-5 last year. Coach Jeff Reitz said the celebration was eight years in the making.
The team has overcome a rash of injuries, and struggled with turnovers nearly all season. Even so, the Bulldogs had their fate in their own hands Friday.
San Jacinto appeared to have the game in control in the fourth, but saw its 10-point lead evaporate. The Tigers scored on their first seriesofthegameonatouchdown run by P.J. Murrieta, but they missed the extra point. Hemet led 7-6, but the Tigers would retake the lead and hold it until the final minutes.
San Jacinto started the leagueseason0-2andneeded to win out just have a shot at the playoffs. Mario Rubio and Murrieta chewed up yardage on the ground, as did receiver Malik Kimbrough. But it was Hemet’s ground game that eventually sealed the win. Martin finished with 161 yards and quarterback Justice Judge added 132 rushing yards.
The wild finish is just another chapter in a storied rivalry that started in 1929. Hemet dominated the series until it was halted in 1967. In 2000, the schools decided to renew the rivalry, but Hemet won all four games in the series and held onto the Victory Bell, given to the winner.
San Jacinto and Hemet became members of the same league four years ago and the Tigers had won all three previous meetings.
Playoff pairings will be announced on Sunday.
DAVID BAUMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Hemet running back Jeffrey Martin dives over the end zone pylon with 16 seconds left to score the go-ahead touchdown against San Jacinto.
STAFF WRITER [email protected]
HEMET—The Victory Bell rang for Hemet for the first time in 10 years on Friday night as the Bulldogs rallied late in the fourth quarter to knock of San Jacinto 41-37 in a Mountain Pass League game.
Hemet trailed 37-27 with 57 seconds left before Jeff Martin bulled in for a score. The Bulldogs recovered the onside kick and marched downfield as the clock ticked down. It was Martin again who ran in from 8 yards out to put Hemet up with 16 seconds left and setting off a celebration .
The victory not only snapped a three-game losing streak to San Jacinto (5-5, 2-3), it earned the Bulldogs (5-5, 3-2) their first playoff berth since 2006.
Players and fans charged the field after the final whistle and eventually made it to the San Jacinto sideline to get the Victory Bell.
Much to the delight of the crowd and students who swarmed onto the field, the bell was wheeled over to the Hemet sidelined and it rang out while the celebration continued.
With the victory, Hemet finishes third in the Mountain Pass to earn an automatic playoff spot. At 5-5 overall, San Jacinto has a shot to make the playoffs with an at-large berth.
Hemet was 5-25 over the past five seasons, including just 2-13 in league over that span and 0-5 last year. Coach Jeff Reitz said the celebration was eight years in the making.
The team has overcome a rash of injuries, and struggled with turnovers nearly all season. Even so, the Bulldogs had their fate in their own hands Friday.
San Jacinto appeared to have the game in control in the fourth, but saw its 10-point lead evaporate. The Tigers scored on their first seriesofthegameonatouchdown run by P.J. Murrieta, but they missed the extra point. Hemet led 7-6, but the Tigers would retake the lead and hold it until the final minutes.
San Jacinto started the leagueseason0-2andneeded to win out just have a shot at the playoffs. Mario Rubio and Murrieta chewed up yardage on the ground, as did receiver Malik Kimbrough. But it was Hemet’s ground game that eventually sealed the win. Martin finished with 161 yards and quarterback Justice Judge added 132 rushing yards.
The wild finish is just another chapter in a storied rivalry that started in 1929. Hemet dominated the series until it was halted in 1967. In 2000, the schools decided to renew the rivalry, but Hemet won all four games in the series and held onto the Victory Bell, given to the winner.
San Jacinto and Hemet became members of the same league four years ago and the Tigers had won all three previous meetings.
Playoff pairings will be announced on Sunday.
DAVID BAUMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Hemet running back Jeffrey Martin dives over the end zone pylon with 16 seconds left to score the go-ahead touchdown against San Jacinto.