Irvine, CA — University improved to 2-2 escaping on Homecoming night in overtime over Garden Grove, 24-21. Garden Grove ran the ball for 280 yards on the night, the bulk of it coming from running back Quentin Pacelli en route to a 13-0 halftime lead. University responded with three second half touchdowns, two coming from running back Damari Carter, who had 149 yards on 28 carries, including 10 for first downs (all career highs). Dylan Elmer threw a 9-yard pass to Carl Oldham for the other score. It was Elmer’s fourth consecutive game with a scoring strike. Carter’s century mark on the ground was the first for Uni since Jai Williams ran for 104 yards on 18 carries vs. Beckman on Oct 13, 2023. Other 100+ yard Trojan rushing performances in the past six seasons include Ziyad Merchant (8-101 vs Beckman, Oct-22, 2021), Pax Lang (17-112 vs Century, Sep-10, 2021) and Merchant (7-107 vs Portola, Oct-11, 2019). The last time a Trojan runner had more yards in a game than Carter was Eddie Castillo (29-207 vs Irvine, Oct-13, 2018). The Trojans were trying to close the game out when Evan Torres picked off a third down pass and returned it to the University 29-yard line with 1:04 to go. Pacelli scored his second touchdown and added a two-point conversion to knot the score at 21 all with 34 seconds left. University proceeded to move the ball to the Garden Grove 30-yard line with 6 seconds to go. Jake Rabold’s 47-yard field goal was long enough, but was just wide left and the game went to overtime. Justin Tribble came up big for the Trojans in overtime. The all-purpose athlete picked off a 4th down pass and then from the quarterback position drove University to the 15-yard line setting up Jake Rabold’s game-winning 31-yard field goal. Both teams struggled in the air, with Uni going 9 for 23 for 83 yards and 2 interceptions. Garden Grove was 9 for 17 for 77 yards and one pick. Oldham led the Uni receiving corps with five catches for 59 yards including four for first downs. Justin Tribble had a pair of receptions for 10 yards. The Trojans did muster 165 rushing yards, their most of the season. In addition to Carter, Justin Tribble ran the ball five times for 17 yards, much of in the overtime period. The Uni defense may have allowed 357 yards on the game, but truly came up big time after time. Uni forced four turnovers after forcing five the week before. The Trojans only allowed the Argonauts to complete one of nine third down tries and two of seven fourth down attempts. Conversely, Uni was 6-15 on third down (5-9 in second half) and 2-3 on fourth down. Pierce Fournier led the defense with nine tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Adham Osman added eight tackles and a tackle for loss. Cruz McMullens had six tackles and a fumble recovery. Maxson Encheff also had six tackles adding a sack. Lucca Clouthier had five tackles including a sack and another TFL plus a pass breakup. Lucas Thune also had five tackles including a TFL and added a pass hurry. Luke Emrich also had five tackles and a sack. Pretty good effort by the three Luc Brothers. Carter was busy on defense as well with four tackles and a strip fumble recovery. Geoff Soriano had four tackles including a forced fumble. Oldham had three tackles and a pass breakup. Michael Gasper had three tackles as well including a TFL. Sina Malekshahi had a key forced fumble on a punt return. First downs were relatively even with Garden Grove 18 (14 run, 4 pass) while Uni had 17 (11 run, 5 pass, 1 penalty). GG was 2-3 in the red zone and Uni was basically perfect (3-3 with one being the game-winning field goal). Uni controlled the clock almost 27 minutes to just above 21 minutes for the Argonauts. Penalties were few and far between with both teams having four flags for 35 yards. Oldham had 105 all purpose yards including 46 on kickoff returns. Justin Tribble had 6 yards passing, 17 rushing, 10 receiving and 26 on an interception return (quite an eclectic collection). Rabold scored six points with his right foot, averaged 53.8 yards on four kickoffs (one touchback) and 28 yards on three punts (one inside the 20). Article courtesy of Daryl Bogard