Defense helps Saints clinch share of Division III Southern League crown

After stopping Mountain View on back-to-back possessions deep in its own territory, Needles managed a seven-play, 89-yard drive to take the lead early Thursday afternoon.

That was the end of the Mustang highlight reel.

The Saints exploded for 22 points in the second quarter, and Needles gained just 35 yards in the final three periods as Mountain View defeated the Mustangs 34-7 to clinch a share of the Division III Southern League title and the league’s top playoff seed.

No matter where you looked on the Saints’ stat sheet, the numbers were impressive.

Mountain View outrushed Needles, 306-52.

The Saints threw for 136 yards, while the Mustangs had just 55 with a pair of interceptions.

And probably the biggest stat line of all: after the Needles score the Mustangs got only as far as the Mountain View 27 the rest of the contest.

“What a job we did defensively,” Mountain View coach Mike Valenzuela said. “We were tight in the early going and didn’t execute. But once we settled down, we were able to control the game.”

In that second quarter, Mountain View quarterback Ian Locke threw touchdown passes of 1 and 39 yards to Noah Van Kempen. Jacob Duldulao added a 20-yard run.

“We ran the ball extremely well, and that’s when we are at our best,” said Valenzuela. “We kept pounding and pounding the football and wore them down.”

Matthew Larson had 105 yards on 23 carries for Mountain View (7-1, 6-0 Division III Southern), and sophomore Bernard Williams added 92 yards on 12 rushes. Duldulao finished with 70 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game late in the third quarter with leg cramps.

Kobee McCorkle had 38 yards on 10 carries to lead Needles (5-3, 4-2 Division III Southern), which had allowed just six points in its previous three games.