University players from left Deandre Miller, Dylan Elmer, Charlie Carmichael and Henry De Assis led the Trojans to a victory Friday. (PHOTOS: Jake Rhodes, For OC Sports Zone).
By JAKE RHODES
For OC Sports Zone
University’s football team has been looking for an opportunity to participate in the CIF playoffs.
In their first appearance since 2015, the Trojans found themselves at home to kick off post season play in Division 13, and they did not disappoint. Uni defeated Twentynine Palms 50-33 Friday night in a first round CIF playoff game.
This was the program’s first playoff win since 2007. Trojans Coach Vince Mesa had a sense of relief in his voice after his team’s resounding victory.
“Shoot, this is my sixth year here, it’s taken a long time to build this thing,” said Mesa. “Finally, the fruits are paying off. Guys have worked their tails off … Kudos to the guys before us, they built that foundation.”
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University (7-4) set the tone early. The Trojans defense forced a three and out to start the game, and the Trojan offense scored three plays into their first series, capped off with an 18-yard touchdown run from senior running back Deandre Miller.
The lead back had a monster game, carrying the ball 12 times for 106 yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. Miller expressed how proud he was to be a part of history for his school.
“It’s a great feeling to make this impact here at Uni,” said Miller.
Twentynine Palms (5-6) did respond, using an 11-play drive that lasted just under five minutes. The equalizer came in the form of a 14-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Joshua Reynoso to junior wide receiver Kahlil Prince.
This was the only time the score was particularly close in this contest.
On the second play of Uni’s next possession, senior quarterback Dylan Elmer connected with senior wide receiver Mosies Keith-Chavez for 24 yards. However, the play was wiped away due to offsetting penalties by both the Trojans and the Wildcats.
On the repeated down, Elmer did his best “he’s down there somewhere” throw to junior wide receiver Charlie Carmichael, who made the catch over the shoulder, broke free from the defensive back, and walked into the end zone from 54 yards out.
Elmer’s pass was a bomb, and it gave the momentum right back to Uni. Carmichael claimed technique is what gave him the opportunity to score.
“I just tried to get outside of him [the cornerback] and Dylan dropped a great ball right over the shoulder, walk-in TD,” said Carmichael.
Carmichael was not done impacting this game, not even close. The very next drive, with the Wildcats threatening to answer again, Carmichael punched the ball away from junior wide receiver Mekhi Bullion on a 27-yard completion. The loose ball was recovered by junior cornerback Muqtader Ahmadi.
Following an interception from Elmer, Twentynine Palms was pinned inside their own 5-yard line. On the first snap after forcing the turnover, the snap was off target, and Reynoso fell on the ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Trojans and putting them up 16-7.
Again, Twentynine Palms was on the door of getting back into this game. Prince returned a Uni punt 72 yards to the Trojans 6-yard line.
On third down, Uni had another senior make a big play. Keith-Chavez stepped in front of an out route in the end zone, and picked off Reynoso. He returned the ball 41 yards, keeping Uni in front by multiple scores.
Keith-Chavez’s interception led to another Uni touchdown, this time from junior running back Henry De Assis, who scampered in on a 13-yard run.
Uni took a 22-7 lead into halftime, and its offense was set to have the ball coming out to start the second half.
Well, their offense never got the ball, because Carmichael decided to impact the game yet again. He zig zagged his way through the Wildcat kickoff coverage, and returned the ball 87 yards to the house. His big run was the decisive blow that knocked out Twentynine Palms in this playoff bout.
Elmer added a 33-yard passing touchdown later in the game, throwing a beautiful ball down field to junior wide receiver Trevor Pattock.
Elmer finished the game completing eight of 13 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He felt honored to be a part of the team that broke Uni’s playoff drought, but is hungry to have his team go all the way.
“We set out this season with the goal of making the playoffs and we’ve gone there and we’ve exceeded it. We like our chances with how the bracket looks right now,” said Elmer. “We just have to keep working hard. We didn’t play our best game tonight… but we did enough and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
University’s senior linebacker Marco Pablo Tirado had a great defensive night as well. He had two sacks, and forced an impressive fumble.
He literally punched the ball out of Twentynine Palm senior running back Anthony Gabriel’s hands. The senior then recovered the fumble he forced, which was one of the last big plays of a historic night for the Trojans.
Reynoso completed 14 of 28 passes for the Wildcats for 170 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Senior athlete Aaron Haney carried the ball 10 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught seven balls for 70 yards. Gabriel carried the ball 14 times for 90 yards and one touchdown, and Prince caught seven passes for 72 yards and two scores
Notes:
—Uni will be traveling to Montebello next week for a Division 13 quarterfinal matchup. The Oilers won their first round playoff game at Del Sol in Oxnard 49-24.
—The head coaches from University and Twentynine Palms had actually faced off before, 26 years ago. They were both players at small colleges in North Dakota. Uni’s coach [Mesa] played his collegiate football at Minot State, and Twentynine Palm’s coach [Eric Tili] played at Mayville State. Both men did not put two and two together until they met at tonight’s game.
—This was University’s first playoff win since in their current stadium. The stadium opened in 2013, and when Uni last made the playoffs in 2015, they were on the road.
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