Spring Mountain mounts late comeback to defeat Joshua Springs

In their first game since former starting quarterback Eric Brooks’ death, the Spring Mountain Golden Eagles (1-0) engineered a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter secure a 28-24 win over Joshua Springs (California).

Down 24-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles got the ball with 1:43 left and started their march down the field with a 15-yard completion from junior Shawn Shumpert to sophomore wide receiver Dalvin Brown. Shumpert missed his next pass attempt, but found senior tight end Michael Scott for a 12 yards to keep the drive alive.

On the next play, junior wide receiver Jeremiah Jimenez got behind the Joshua Springs secondary, and hauled in a 35-yard touchdown touchdown to put Spring Mountain ahead for good.

“I just ran my route. I didn’t see no one near me,” Jimenez said after the game. “I just looked, the ball was in the air. When I caught it, I looked and no one was around me. Then I went in the end zone, I knew it was game.”

Jimenez finished the game with eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also played defense and had an interception.

Spring Mountain coach Aaron Masden was overwhelmed with emotion as he talked about the grit and resolve his team displayed as it fought back from an 18-6 deficit.

“We knew we were going to be a little raw in our first game,” he said. “We talked about staying in the fight. Keep fighting and, you never know, good things will happen. That’s how you overcome adversity. That says a lot about the character of our boys.”

The Golden Eagles are still mourning Brooks, their former starting quarterback who helped lead the team to the 1A state title last season and was killed on June 30.

All of the players wore a No. 9 sticker on the back of their helmets to honor him.

Masden had difficulty holding back the tears as he talked about what this win meant for his team given the tough circumstances.

“It feels great to be able to do something positive,” he said. “The last time we coached a game, Eric was with us. He’s not now, and we’re trying to get these boys to understand that they got to make some really good decisions in life, on and off the field. I’m just really proud.

“I know he’s watching over us,” Jimenez added. “He did what he did with the state championship. We’re going to live up to it and do it again.”

Contact Jonathan Saxon at jsaxon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @J_Saxon91 on Twitter.