Belmont Shore won the Southern California in dramatic fashion Saturday, coming back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the San Diego Mustangs.
The Mustangs produced a solid effort and were up 26-7 with 10 minutes to go. But Belmont Shore scored three converted tries to make it 26-21 with time winding down. Off the restart from that second second-half try, No. 8 Ike Mikaele fielded the ball, committed some defenders, and shipped it wide to wing Scholar Maat-Hotep, who cut inside, found some space, and put the foot down to score under the posts. Flyhalf Manu Taula capped off a four-for-four day with the conversion and Belmont Shore had the victory 28-26.
