 "Photo: Tyler George")
 "Photo: Tyler George")
 "Photo: Tyler George")
 "Photo: Tyler George")
It was bowl time again last Saturday, as the MJC Pirates took on the San Jose City College (SJCC) Jaguars, in only the second ever meeting between the two schools (1999, MJC won 30-14). Head Coach Sam Young and the Pirates were looking for their second consecutive Graffiti Bowl win, after last year’s win over Sacrament City College. SSJC was coming in trying to stop a Graffiti Bowl giant, as MJC is 8-3 all time in the Graffiti Bowl. But SSJC star running back Kendrickus Reed was not enough to pull the Jaguars past the Pirates, as MJC won in a rout, 54-13.
The game starts on three touchdowns in about a two minute span, as the Pirates had shell-shocked the Jaguars. Kendrickus Reed made a valiant effort coming back with a 47-yard touchdown run, but as quarterback Greg Panelli would hit wide receivers Mike Ward and Donovan Wallace for touchdowns, and Casey Cotta running another one in, all thoughts of a comeback were put to rest. By the time the game had reached the midway point in the third quarter, it was 54-7, and substitutes were becoming a strong option.
Panelli was named the MVP of the Graffiti Bowl, as he went 19-25, throwing for 234 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, before being lifted in the 4th quarter for back up Jace Sloan (1-1, 0 yards). Wide receiver Vince Andrews had five catches for 73 yards, and a 78 yard kickoff return. Mike Ward also had a good day receiving, making two touchdown receptions. The strong core of MJC running backs accounted for 205 yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensive lineman Oliver Pryor had a sack, two tackles for a loss, and a blocked a point after attempt in the third quarter. But we digress to the man, the myth, the MVP: Greg Panelli.
Pre-game, "I was nervous and excited," said Panelli. "This was obviously my last game here. I’ve been here for three years, and this program has treated me pretty well. I was excited to get out here and play the last game with a lot of these guys."
Panelli also commented on Coach Young and his staff, and the ability to get the players ready for the games. Even though Panelli will be gone, he will always remember where he came from.
"I'll look down the road later on, and I’ll have three rings. I’m gonna remember MJC and look back on the tradition here." Even though Panelli has had a stellar game, he says the MVP trophy couldn't have been received alone.
"I'm pretty excited," said Panelli about the award, "but I couldn't have done it without the big guys up front, the linemen. The running game was solid today, the defense held up all year and gave us a good game, got us the ball back and scored a couple touchdowns to make it easy on us. So, as much as it's [The MVP Award] 'put it on one person,' I think it should go to the team." Panelli hopes to play football, get his master's degree, and come back to coach locally.
A couple of decades separate Panelli and Coach Young, but they both share the same insight of the game.
"We were very excited for the post season," said Coach Young. "We obviously saved our best for last. This is the best game this team has played this year no doubt in my mind. If you think of all three phases: offense, defense and special teams, we played at a high level."
In a game that had the Pirates scoring 59 points, the Pirates offense came up big. But the defense also shined, holding SJCC to 13 points, and scoreless in the second and fourth quarter. Defensive back Brett Butler knew that keeping the Jaguars off the board was important.
"SJCC throughout the years put up a lot of points," said Butler. "They've had really good receivers and quarterbacks, so we knew the only way we would be able to stay in the game is if we got the ball back for our offense. "
Butler also had four tackles playing for a shutdown Pirate Defense. For defensive linemen Oliver Pryor, who had almost every defensive stat, it was all about intensity.
"I was fired up. It was my last game," said Pryor. "I just love everyone out here. All my brothers had to go out with a bang. We worked hard all year." Not stopping on intensity, Donald Salter could be seen running up and down the side lines, getting his teammates excited, something he says stems from his love for the game.
"It's like, I love football so much," said Salter. "I try to bring the intensity in our team, kinda help them play better with some inspiration and get some kind of motivation." Salters is undecided whether he will stay at MJC or explore new opportunities.
Coach Young also made history on Saturday, becoming the only head coach in school history to make it to four straight bowl games, something he says is "a little" special, but not his biggest gain from the year.
"To me, it’s the relationship with the players, that’s the number one thing," said Coach Young. "I'm just happy my guys played in a first class manner in this game. We kept the penalties down, and obviously coming up on top is the bonus."
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