STOCKTON – With the chance to pull in a piece of the Valley Conference championship seemingly slipping through Delta College’s grasp, East Union graduate Dennis Johnson provided the Mustangs with a spark to ignite a championship run in their 21-17 win over Modesto College Saturday at DeRicco Field.
Delta (4-1 VC, 7-3 overall) trailed the Pirates 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, when Johnson lifted the Mustangs’ spirits with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Derek Graves. The touchdown pass not only pulled the Mustangs to within a score, it rejuvenated a program that had seen too much of its season already slip away in heart-breaking fourth quarters.
“I have to give all the credit to our coaches for pointing out a little breakdown in coverage when that personnel grouping came on to the field,” Delta head coach Gary Barlow said. “The players did a great job executing it, just like we had talked about at halftime when the situation came up.
“Fortunately it worked out.”
Not only did it work, it ushered Delta to its portion of the 2010 Valley Conference title, which it shares with Fresno City College. Delta’s defensive unit, who struggled mightily at times stopping the Pirates over the first two quarters, responded with three-and-out stands on back-to-back drives forcing Modesto into its own moments of uncertainty.
Manteca High product Beau Fryer did everything in his power to seal the deal for the Mustangs, returning a Pirate punt 78 yards for a touchdown only to have the game’s most exciting play nullified by an illegal block.
Fryer’s defensive unit would do the job, as former Valley Oak League MVP Devin Combs would lead Modesto deep into Mustang territory, yet come up empty after a fourth-and-two attempt from inside the 10-yard line was stopped, handing the Mustangs the ball and 2:46 to run off the clock for the title.
“This whole year we have been know for our goal line stands,” Fryer said. “We have the toughest defense in the league without a doubt. Statistics may not show it, but our defense is all about heart.
“This season would not have felt complete without a piece of that championship.”
Modesto (3-2, 7-3) will still find themselves with a bowl game berth, but missing out on the conference title was something that will definitely weigh on the Pirates program.
Sierra High graduate Jarrod Daniels was impressive in a losing effort, grinding out 108 yards on just 17 carries. Daniels, also a former VOL MVP, scored Modesto’s first points on a 16-yard carry through the middle of Delta’s defense early in the first quarter.
“This was very important to us, we knew we had to come out focused because they are a very good team,” Daniels said after the loss. “We were playing here, so we wanted to come in and set the tone in the first half and we did.
“But they won the second-half, so they get the W’.”
Matchups for both teams’ bowl games will be announced today, with Modesto and Delta both hosting contests Saturday.
Delta (4-1 VC, 7-3 overall) trailed the Pirates 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, when Johnson lifted the Mustangs’ spirits with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Derek Graves. The touchdown pass not only pulled the Mustangs to within a score, it rejuvenated a program that had seen too much of its season already slip away in heart-breaking fourth quarters.
“I have to give all the credit to our coaches for pointing out a little breakdown in coverage when that personnel grouping came on to the field,” Delta head coach Gary Barlow said. “The players did a great job executing it, just like we had talked about at halftime when the situation came up.
“Fortunately it worked out.”
Not only did it work, it ushered Delta to its portion of the 2010 Valley Conference title, which it shares with Fresno City College. Delta’s defensive unit, who struggled mightily at times stopping the Pirates over the first two quarters, responded with three-and-out stands on back-to-back drives forcing Modesto into its own moments of uncertainty.
Manteca High product Beau Fryer did everything in his power to seal the deal for the Mustangs, returning a Pirate punt 78 yards for a touchdown only to have the game’s most exciting play nullified by an illegal block.
Fryer’s defensive unit would do the job, as former Valley Oak League MVP Devin Combs would lead Modesto deep into Mustang territory, yet come up empty after a fourth-and-two attempt from inside the 10-yard line was stopped, handing the Mustangs the ball and 2:46 to run off the clock for the title.
“This whole year we have been know for our goal line stands,” Fryer said. “We have the toughest defense in the league without a doubt. Statistics may not show it, but our defense is all about heart.
“This season would not have felt complete without a piece of that championship.”
Modesto (3-2, 7-3) will still find themselves with a bowl game berth, but missing out on the conference title was something that will definitely weigh on the Pirates program.
Sierra High graduate Jarrod Daniels was impressive in a losing effort, grinding out 108 yards on just 17 carries. Daniels, also a former VOL MVP, scored Modesto’s first points on a 16-yard carry through the middle of Delta’s defense early in the first quarter.
“This was very important to us, we knew we had to come out focused because they are a very good team,” Daniels said after the loss. “We were playing here, so we wanted to come in and set the tone in the first half and we did.
“But they won the second-half, so they get the W’.”
Matchups for both teams’ bowl games will be announced today, with Modesto and Delta both hosting contests Saturday.
