MCC Football wins 2016 Valley of the Sun Bowl

Mesa Community College has enjoyed many thrilling victories throughout its athletic history, but few can match the drama and significance of the 2016 Valley of the Sun Bowl—arguably the most exciting game the T-Birds have ever played.

In what was their 11th bowl appearance, eighth-ranked MCC battled No. 7 Lackawanna (Pa.) in a game that delivered non-stop action and a double-overtime finish. Mesa came away with a heart-pounding 48-42 win, securing their seventh bowl victory and finishing the season with a 9-2 record—their best since 2007, when they posted the same mark and also claimed a Valley of the Sun Bowl title.

The game didn't start well for the T-Birds. They quickly fell into a 21-0 hole in the first quarter, as Lackawanna looked poised to finish an undefeated season. But Mesa began to claw back, cutting the deficit to 21-7 by halftime. The comeback continued into the third quarter, culminating at the 3:44 mark when quarterback Rathen Ricedorf hit Darius Aguirre on a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21-21.

The two teams continued trading scores into the fourth quarter. Ricedorf and Aguirre connected again—this time from 40 yards out—to tie it at 35-35 and send the game into overtime.

Under the rules at the time, each team began its possession at the opponent's 25-yard line. Mesa had the ball first and took six plays to reach the end zone, with Tyrek Cross powering in from two yards out. But Lackawanna responded immediately, as David Pindell found Jerrod Diggs on a 24-yard strike to force a second overtime.

This time, the Falcons had the first possession, but the MCC defense came up big—holding them to just two yards on three plays. Lackawanna's 33-yard field goal attempt by Erik Hill missed wide left, giving Mesa a golden opportunity.

And they didn't waste it.

On the very first play of the second overtime, Ricedorf dropped back and lofted a perfect pass to Aguirre in the right corner of the end zone. Over the shoulder and into his arms, the duo's fourth touchdown connection of the night sealed an unforgettable 48-42 victory for the T-Birds.

That final score was Ricedorf's 42nd touchdown pass of the season, capping a campaign in which he threw for 3,685 yards—just two of the many school records he set during his remarkable sophomore year.

It was a storybook ending to one of the finest football seasons in Mesa history.

Read the entire account of the game here