Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 | 12:06 a.m.
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Sunrise Mountain rallied from a 22-0 second-half deficit to force overtime, but Mojave was able to hold on and escape with a 34-28 win on Thursday night.
Mojave quarterback Xavier Delong ran for two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in OT to give the Rattlers the victory in the Sunset League opener for both teams.
Mojave was up 22-0 in the third quarter when Sunrise Mountain mounted its comeback. Junior quarterback Tyree Hayes threw a pair of touchdown passes to pull the Miners within 28-21, and senior running back Trayvon Ward scored late in the fourth quarter to force the extra period.
Sunrise Mountain had the first possession of overtime, but the Miners’ momentum finally stalled. Mojave held Sunrise to a field-goal attempt, but the kick missed. On the ensuing possession, Delong scored on a dive up the middle to give Mojave the win.
“We got that big 3-and-out, and they missed [the field goal],” Mojave coach Abraham Gonzalez said. “We took over and got a really good push and it just opened up for Xavier.”
Mojave is now 4-1 with a game at Desert Pines set for next week. Sunrise Mountain is 2-3 on the year.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.