On Friday, August 30, 2024, our Cardinals staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Cathedral City Lions 28-20 in a thrilling game that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The game started with an early surge by the Lions, who took advantage of San Bernardino’s slow start. Within the first 7 minutes and 30 seconds, Cathedral City had jumped out to a 14-0 lead, putting the Cardinals on the ropes.

However, the Cardinals responded with resilience. Jaimonnie Stanley led the charge, scoring two touchdowns. By halftime, San Bernardino had flipped the script, holding a 21-14 lead.

The second half was tense, with the Lions scoring a touchdown, but a blocked extra point kept the game close, 21-20 Cardinals. The game’s pivotal moment came in the middle of the third quarter. With the Cardinals clinging to a one-point lead, Angel Cortes-Vazquez electrified the crowd with a 95-yard touchdown reception, giving San Bernardino a crucial 28-20 cushion.

Cathedral City fought hard to mount a comeback of their own, but the Cardinals’ defense stood tall in the final moments. Key defensive stops, including two sacks, sealed the victory for San Bernardino, who celebrated their hard-fought win as the final whistle blew.

The Cardinals will look to carry this momentum into their next game against the Arroyo Valley Hawks on Thursday, September 5th.

Highlights

Jaimonnie Stanley rushed for 122 yards on 17 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns.

Angel Cortes-Vazquez had 3 receptions for 135 yards, one of which was for 95 yards. He ended the game with 1 touchdown and a total of 164 yards.

Quarterback Steele Suatele had 156 total yards, and 1 touchdown.

Elijah Juarez had 11 tackles, 6 solo.

Tyler Harris led the team with 12 tackles, 6 solo.

Hayden Hernandez had 10 tackles, 5 solo.

Game highlights can be watched here.