Football Knocks Off Previously Unbeaten San Bernardino Valley

PALM DESERT, Calif. - Sophomore quarterback Stephen Johnson II (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos HS) accumulated 568 yards of offense in leading College of the Desert to a 53-34 victory over visiting San Bernardino Valley Saturday evening in Palm Desert to take home the SBVC-Desert Challenge trophy.

A back-and-forth first half that saw multiple lead changes ended with the Roadrunners trailing 21-18 following a late SBVC touchdown.  The visitors increased their lead right out of the gate in the second half, as a long pass play gave them a 28-19 advantage.

COD struck back quickly, as Johnson II completed a tough throw to sophomore wide receiver Marquis D. Kingery (Carmel, IN/Carmel HS) to cap off a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.  Perhaps the game's biggest play occurred on San Bernardino's next series, as a negative running play ended with a fumble recovery for a Roadrunner touchdown.  

A San Bernardino touchdown cut the margin to 46-34 to open the fourth quarter, but Johnson, as he had done all evening, responded in a big way by scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game when he dove in after an eight yard run.

Johnson II, the reigning two-time American Mountain League Offensive Player of the Week, was stellar again, completing 31 of 50 passes for 514 yards and five touchdowns.  He also ran 13 times for 54 yards and two scores.

Kingery caught 10 passes on the evening for 198 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore wide receiver Tristian Buyck (Montgomery, AL/Sydney Lanier HS) also went over the century-mark with seven catches for 120 yards and one touchdown.  

College of the Desert (2-3, 2-0) will get a bye next weekend, before returning home on Saturday, October 17 for a 6 p.m. game against El-Camino Compton.